Evaluation of destruction of bacterial membrane structure associated with anti-quorum sensing and ant-diabetic activity of Cyperus esculentus extract

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for medicinal plants to control diseases for good health and well-being, as primary health facilities are inadequate in certain populations to cure infections. Since synthetic medicines are toxic to humans and other animals, the present research is thus focused on using traditional medicine for treating various ailments as they are harmless. Based on the above facts, the current study was conducted to assay the antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, anti-cholinesterase, anti-oxidant, anti-quorum sensing, and anti-antibiotic resistance modifying effect of extracts of Cyperus esculentus. This study found 37 and 30 chemicals in butanol and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts using a gas chromatograph mass spectrophotometer (GC-MS). Most active compounds identified were benzofuran, 2,3-dihydro-, 1,2,3-benzenetriol, 3-bornanone, oxime and oleic acid by extracts of butanol whereas dichloromethane extracted three major active compounds (2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-, 4H-pyran-4-one 3-deoxy-d-mannoic lactone and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural). Both dichloromethane and butanol extracts showed the highest antimicrobial activity. Compared to aqueous extracts, dichloromethane, and butanol showed excellent anti-diabetic anti-cholinesterase activities and inhibited virulence factors regulated by quorum sensing (QS). Anti-oxidants increased in solvent extracts (DCM and butanol) compared to aqueous extracts. Results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transmission Infrared (FTIR) indicated damage to the cell membrane of S. aureus by the formation of pits and breakage in functional groups exposed to the extracts of butanol and dichloromethane compared to aqueous extracts. The above results confirmed that C. esculentus can be an alternative medicine for treating diseases.

Keywords: Anti-diabetic effect; Antibacterial activity; Antifungal activity; Cell damage; Cell-to-cell communication; Cyperus esculentus; Secondary metabolites.

Fig. 1

The spectrum of chemical compounds identified in the butanol extract of C.esculentus.

Fig. 2

The spectrum of chemical compounds identified in the extract of dichloromethane of C. esculentus.

Fig. 3

a. Scanning electron micrograph pictures of S. aureus exposed to aqueous (A), butanol (B), and dichloromethane (C) extracts. Arrows indicate damage to S. aureus due to butanol and dichloromethane extracts compared to aqueous extract. b.Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis spectra (D–F) of S. aureus exposed to aqueous (D), butanol (E) and dichloromethane (F) extracts.

Fig. 4

FTIR spectra of S. aureus exposed to aqueous (A), butanol (B) and dichloromethane (C) extracts.