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. 2024 Aug 1;19(8):e0308211.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308211. eCollection 2024.

Staphylococcus aureus/Staphylococcus epidermidis from skin microbiota are balanced by Pomegranate peel extract: An eco-sustainable approach

Sara D'Arcangelo  1 , Paola Di Fermo  2 , Firas Diban  1 , Vincenzo Ferrone  1 , Simonetta D'Ercole  2 , Mara Di Giulio  1 , Silvia Di Lodovico  1
Affiliations

Staphylococcus aureus/Staphylococcus epidermidis from skin microbiota are balanced by Pomegranate peel extract: An eco-sustainable approach

Sara D'Arcangelo et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The imbalance in skin microbiota is characterized by an increased number of pathogens in respect to commensal microorganisms. Starting from a skin microbiota collection, the aim of this work was to evaluate the possible role of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Peel Extract (PPE) in restoring the skin microbiota balance acting on Staphylococcus spp. PPE was extracted following green methodology by using n-butane and the Dimethyl Ether (DME) solvents and analyzed for phytochemical composition and antimicrobial activity. The PPE antimicrobial action was evaluated against Gram +, Gram - bacteria and yeast reference strains and the most effective extract was tested against the main skin microbiota isolated strains. PPE extracted with DME showed the best antimicrobial action with MICs ranging from 1 to 128 mg/mL; the main active compounds were Catechin, Quercetin, Vanillic acid and Gallic acid. The PPE in DME anti-adhesive effect was examined against S. epidermidis and S. aureus mono and dual-species biofilm formation by biomass quantification and CFU/mL determination. The extract toxicity was evaluated by using Galleria mellonella larvae in vivo model. The extract displayed a significant anti-adhesive activity with a remarkable species-specific action at 4 and 8 mg/mL against S. epidermidis and S. aureus mono and dual-species biofilms. PPE in DME could represent an eco-sustainable non-toxic strategy to affect the Staphylococcal skin colonization in a species-specific way. The innovation of this work is represented by the reuse of food waste to balance skin microbiota.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Skin microbiota collection.
Percentage of skin microbiota species identified from back skin of healthy volunteers enrolled in the study.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Bacterial abundance of skin microbiota in back skin of volunteers enrolled in the study: Male and female distribution.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Effect of PPE in DME after 3 h and 24 h on mono-species biofilm formation.
Log CFU/mL of S. epidermidis DAS 31 (A, C) and S. aureus DLS 69 (B, D) in mono-species biofilms in presence of PPE in DME at 16, 8, 4 mg/mL (1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 MIC S. epidermidis DAS 31) and 8, 4, 2 mg/mL (1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 MIC of S. aureus DLS 69) at 3 h (A, B) and 24 h (C, D). *Statistically significant in respect to the control. ^Statistically significance among the groups. (CTR: control).
Fig 4
Fig 4. Effect of PPE in DME after 3 h and 24 h on mono-species biofilm formation.
S. epidermidis DAS 31 (A, C) and S. aureus DLS 69 (B, D) biofilm biomass after treatment with 16, 8, 4 mg/mL (1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 MIC S. epidermidis DAS 31) and 8, 4, 2 mg/mL (1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 MIC of S. aureus DLS 69) of PPE in DME at 3 h (A, B) and 24 h (C, D).
Fig 5
Fig 5. Effect of PPE in DME after 3 h and 24 h on dual-species biofilm formation.
Log CFU/mL of S. epidermidis DAS 31 and S. aureus DLS 69 in dual-species biofilm, in presence of 8, 4, 2 mg/mL (1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 MIC) PPE in DME after 3 h (A) and 24 h (B). *Statistically significant in respect to the control. (CTR: control).
Fig 6
Fig 6. In vivo toxicity assay.
Survival rate of Galleria mellonella larvae after treatment with PPE in DME, shown through Kaplan-Meier curve.
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