Influence of menthol on membrane-associated properties of tetracycline-resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i>

Silvard Tadevosyan; Naira Sahakyan; Silvard Tadevosyan; Naira Sahakyan

doi:10.3934/biophy.2024018

AIMS Biophysics

2024, Volume 11, Issue 3: 329-339. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2024018

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Research article

Influence of menthol on membrane-associated properties of tetracycline-resistant Escherichia coli

Silvard Tadevosyan ^1,2,
Naira Sahakyan ^{1,2
,
,}

1.
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Biotechnology, Yerevan State University, 1 A. Manoogian Str., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia
2.
Research Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, 1 A. Manoogian Str., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia

Received: 12 July 2024 Revised: 29 August 2024 Accepted: 03 September 2024 Published: 05 September 2024

In this investigation, we assessed the antibacterial properties of menthol using Escherichia coli strains, including a tetracycline-resistant (BN407) and a non-resistant reference (K12) strains. The disc-diffusion assay indicated remarkable antibacterial activity of menthol, warranting further exploration. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for menthol was determined to be 500 µg/ml for both strains. Despite identical MIC values, menthol exhibited different effects on the colony-forming units (CFUs) of the strains, reducing CFUs by 55% in E. coli K12 and 40% in E. coli BN407.
Growth kinetics studies revealed that menthol extended the Lag phase by 50% and decreased the specific growth rate and mean generation time by nearly 50% for both strains. These findings illustrate menthol's significant impact on bacterial replication and adaptation processes. Additionally, menthol disrupted membrane-associated properties, as evidenced by reduced H⁺-flux through bacterial membranes, affecting both N,N-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)-sensitive and non-sensitive proton flux rates. This indicates that menthol compromises the proton motive force critical for ATP synthesis and nutrient transport.
In summary, menthol demonstrates potent antibacterial activity, influencing bacterial growth and survival. This activity is supposed to be due to the influence on membrane functionality. These effects are consistent across both tetracycline-resistant and non-resistant E. coli strains.
- antibiotic-resistance,
- Escherichia coli,
- Armenian flora,
- proton fluxes
Citation: Silvard Tadevosyan, Naira Sahakyan. Influence of menthol on membrane-associated properties of tetracycline-resistant Escherichia coli[J]. AIMS Biophysics, 2024, 11(3): 329-339. doi: 10.3934/biophy.2024018

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Abstract

In this investigation, we assessed the antibacterial properties of menthol using Escherichia coli strains, including a tetracycline-resistant (BN407) and a non-resistant reference (K12) strains. The disc-diffusion assay indicated remarkable antibacterial activity of menthol, warranting further exploration. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for menthol was determined to be 500 µg/ml for both strains. Despite identical MIC values, menthol exhibited different effects on the colony-forming units (CFUs) of the strains, reducing CFUs by 55% in E. coli K12 and 40% in E. coli BN407.

Growth kinetics studies revealed that menthol extended the Lag phase by 50% and decreased the specific growth rate and mean generation time by nearly 50% for both strains. These findings illustrate menthol's significant impact on bacterial replication and adaptation processes. Additionally, menthol disrupted membrane-associated properties, as evidenced by reduced H⁺-flux through bacterial membranes, affecting both N,N-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)-sensitive and non-sensitive proton flux rates. This indicates that menthol compromises the proton motive force critical for ATP synthesis and nutrient transport.

In summary, menthol demonstrates potent antibacterial activity, influencing bacterial growth and survival. This activity is supposed to be due to the influence on membrane functionality. These effects are consistent across both tetracycline-resistant and non-resistant E. coli strains.

Abbreviations

essential oil

CAGR

compound annual growth rate

SGR

Specific growth rate

wild type

standard deviation

MIC

minimal inhibitory concentration

DCCD

N,N-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

GS-MS

gas chromatography mass spectrometry

Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the Science Committee of MESCS RA, in the frames of the research projects №23AA-1F012.

Conflict of interest

There was no any conflict of interest.

Author contributions

ST carried out the research and created figures, NS supervised the research, analyzed data, and composed drafted version of article. Both authors approved the final version of article.

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