Caffeic Acid and Erythromycin: Antibacterial and Synergistic Effects on Staphylococci

<b>Background:</b> Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially <i>Staphylococcus</i> species, are a growing concern in healthcare settings and infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains are difficult to treat. Therefore, it is imperative to explore new treatment methods f...

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Main Authors: Małgorzata Kępa, Maria Miklasińska-Majdanik, Aleksandra Haczyk, Arkadiusz Matuła, Robert D. Wojtyczka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/964
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author Małgorzata Kępa
Maria Miklasińska-Majdanik
Aleksandra Haczyk
Arkadiusz Matuła
Robert D. Wojtyczka
author_facet Małgorzata Kępa
Maria Miklasińska-Majdanik
Aleksandra Haczyk
Arkadiusz Matuła
Robert D. Wojtyczka
author_sort Małgorzata Kępa
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially <i>Staphylococcus</i> species, are a growing concern in healthcare settings and infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains are difficult to treat. Therefore, it is imperative to explore new treatment methods for these infections such as combinations of natural compounds with antibiotics. <b>Methods:</b> The main objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of caffeic acid against staphylococcal strains. The viability of bacterial cells and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC<sub>50</sub>) for caffeic acid were also examined. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the caffeic acid was determined using a serial microdilution method. To study the combined effect of caffeic acid and erythromycin, the fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs) were determined. <b>Results:</b> Caffeic acid inhibited the growth of all the tested isolates, with MIC values ranging from 256 to 1024 µg/mL and reduced bacterial cell viability at concentrations corresponding to MIC values. Caffeic acid and erythromycin showed a synergistic effect when used together against three examined strains and had an additive effect against two isolates. However, their combination was indifferent against the seven remaining staphylococci tested. <b>Conclusions:</b> The results of our research demonstrate that caffeic acid has antimicrobial properties against the tested strains.
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spelling doaj-art-565d1c1e598d4e719127b8bb770bca4a2025-08-20T03:32:33ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-06-0118796410.3390/ph18070964Caffeic Acid and Erythromycin: Antibacterial and Synergistic Effects on StaphylococciMałgorzata Kępa0Maria Miklasińska-Majdanik1Aleksandra Haczyk2Arkadiusz Matuła3Robert D. Wojtyczka4Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 4, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 4, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 4, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 4, 41-200 Sosnowiec, PolandDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jagiellońska 4, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland<b>Background:</b> Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially <i>Staphylococcus</i> species, are a growing concern in healthcare settings and infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains are difficult to treat. Therefore, it is imperative to explore new treatment methods for these infections such as combinations of natural compounds with antibiotics. <b>Methods:</b> The main objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of caffeic acid against staphylococcal strains. The viability of bacterial cells and half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC<sub>50</sub>) for caffeic acid were also examined. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the caffeic acid was determined using a serial microdilution method. To study the combined effect of caffeic acid and erythromycin, the fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs) were determined. <b>Results:</b> Caffeic acid inhibited the growth of all the tested isolates, with MIC values ranging from 256 to 1024 µg/mL and reduced bacterial cell viability at concentrations corresponding to MIC values. Caffeic acid and erythromycin showed a synergistic effect when used together against three examined strains and had an additive effect against two isolates. However, their combination was indifferent against the seven remaining staphylococci tested. <b>Conclusions:</b> The results of our research demonstrate that caffeic acid has antimicrobial properties against the tested strains.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/964natural compoundsfractional inhibitory concentrationmultidrug-resistant strainshalf maximal inhibitory concentration
spellingShingle Małgorzata Kępa
Maria Miklasińska-Majdanik
Aleksandra Haczyk
Arkadiusz Matuła
Robert D. Wojtyczka
Caffeic Acid and Erythromycin: Antibacterial and Synergistic Effects on Staphylococci
Pharmaceuticals
natural compounds
fractional inhibitory concentration
multidrug-resistant strains
half maximal inhibitory concentration
title Caffeic Acid and Erythromycin: Antibacterial and Synergistic Effects on Staphylococci
title_full Caffeic Acid and Erythromycin: Antibacterial and Synergistic Effects on Staphylococci
title_fullStr Caffeic Acid and Erythromycin: Antibacterial and Synergistic Effects on Staphylococci
title_full_unstemmed Caffeic Acid and Erythromycin: Antibacterial and Synergistic Effects on Staphylococci
title_short Caffeic Acid and Erythromycin: Antibacterial and Synergistic Effects on Staphylococci
title_sort caffeic acid and erythromycin antibacterial and synergistic effects on staphylococci
topic natural compounds
fractional inhibitory concentration
multidrug-resistant strains
half maximal inhibitory concentration
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/964
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AT aleksandrahaczyk caffeicacidanderythromycinantibacterialandsynergisticeffectsonstaphylococci
AT arkadiuszmatuła caffeicacidanderythromycinantibacterialandsynergisticeffectsonstaphylococci
AT robertdwojtyczka caffeicacidanderythromycinantibacterialandsynergisticeffectsonstaphylococci