Aminonaphthoquinone induces oxidative stress in Staphylococcus aureus.

The biological activity of 5-amino-8-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (ANQ) on Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in comparison with the unsubstituted 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ). Complete inhibition of microbial growth was observed with ANQ and NQ at 50 and 10 microg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial effect of naphthoquinones decreased in the presence of sodium ascorbate, but the superoxide scavenger 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzene-disulfonic acid (Tiron) was able to protect S. aureus only from the harmful effect of ANQ. Naphthoquinones blocked oxygen uptake and induced cyanide-insensitive oxygen consumption. When combining rotenone or salicylhydroxamic acid with ANQ or NQ, a slight decrease in respiratory activity was observed. Assays in the presence of naphthoquinones induced an increase of lipid peroxidation in S. aureus, as determined by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. These results showed that 1,4-naphthoquinones effectively act as electron acceptors and induce an increase in reactive oxygen species that are toxic to S. aureus cells.