Elimination of Persister Cells Originating From Staphylococcus aureus by Scrophularia striata Boiss. Extract

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is a significant pathogen responsible for various infections. It has shown increasing resistance to multiple antibiotics, with persister cell formation playing a crucial role in recurrent infections. Scrophularia striata Boiss., a medicinal plant known for its antimicrobial properties, is assessed in this study for its potential to eliminate persister cells derived from S. aureus. Materials &Methods: The identification and confirmation of bacterial strains, as well as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests, were performed according to CLSI, ۲۰۲۲. Rifampin (۶۴۰ μg/mL; ۴۰×MIC) and ampicillin (۱۰۰ μg/mL) were used to trigger persister cell formation from methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MRSA and MSSA). The effect of S. striata extract on the persister cells and the Caco-۲ cell line (cytotoxic effect) was evaluated.Results:The MIC of rifampin for MRSA and MSSA was ۸ µg/mL and ۱۶ µg/mL, respectively. The ۲۵ mg/mL and ۴۰۰ mg/mL concentrations of S. striata extract had the lowest and the highest effects on the elimination of MRSA and MSSA persister cells, respectively. Moreover, the ۴۰۰ mg/mL concentration of S. striata extract had the highest effect on inhibiting the growth of Caco-۲ cells.Conclusion: As an alternative and novel therapeutic option to traditional antibiotics, the S. striata extract may be useful in combating S. aureus persister cells as well as the cancer cells. Due to the difficulties associated with the eradication of persister cells, which may lead to untreatable persistent infections and pose a serious challenge to medicine, this finding is encouraging; however, more studies are required to confirm and generalize the results.

کلیدواژه ها:

MRSA ، MSSA ، persister cells ، Scrophularia striata Boiss ، Staphylococcus aureus