Anti-infective efficacy of Psidium guajava L. leaves against certain pathogenic bacteria.

Water extracts of Psidium guajava leaves prepared by three different extraction methods were compared with respect to their anti-infective activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in the nematode host Caenorhabditis elegans. The water extract prepared by Microwave Assisted Extraction method was found to have better anti-infective activity, and its activity was further compared with hydroalcoholic extract prepared using the same extraction method against five different pathogenic bacteria. Both these extracts could attenuate virulence of P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, Serratia marcescens, and Chromobacterium violaceum, towards C. elegans. Anti-infective efficacy of P. guajava leaf extract seems partly to stem from its quorum-modulatory property, as it could modulate production of quorum sensing-regulated pigments in all the susceptible bacteria.

Introduction

Given the heavy global burden of infectious diseases, it is imperative to discover novel pharmaceutical assets for combating antimicrobial resistance, with particular focus on antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens recently listed by the World Health Organization as of high/critical priority ( Tacconelli ). Since the antibiotic pipeline lacks new mechanisms against resistant bacteria, particularly gram-negative bacteria (see here for more information), it is necessary to look for new antibiotics as well as non-antibiotic approaches to tackle bacterial infections.

A reverse pharmacology approach ( Raut ) of investigating plant extracts, particularly those employed in documented or folklore traditional medicine, for their potential anti-pathogenic efficacy may pave the way for discovery and development of novel antimicrobial molecules/ formulations. We undertook the current study to investigate anti-infective potential of one such plant extract, Psidium guajava L. (common name- guava; Family- Myrtaceae) leaf extract, against five different pathogenic bacteria. This plant has traditionally been used for treatment of various gastrointestinal problems including diarrhea and dysentery ( Birdi ), which are caused usually due to microbial infections. Validation of such traditional medicinal practices through modern scientific approach is necessary for their wider acceptance in the community, and for building public confidence in them ( Kothari, 2018).

Methods

Plant material

Shade dried mature guava leaves of Sardar variety, one of the five common Indian varieties were used. The leaves were collected in September 2014 from Shirwal, Satara district, Maharashtra, India. The dried leaves were stored in a sealed plastic bag at 25°C. A voucher specimen was deposited at Naoroji Godrej Centre for Plant Research (NGCPR, Shirwal) under herbarium number NGCPR 712.

Test pathogens

Pathogenic bacteria used in this study ( Dataset 1: Extended data) included Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 737); beta-lactamase producing multidrug resistant strains of Chromobacterium violaceum (MTCC 2656) and Serratia marcescens (MTCC 97); multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa; and Streptococcus pyogenes (MTCC 1924). Resistance to three or more antibiotics during antibiotic susceptibility profiling ( Dataset 1) was taken as the criteria for tagging any organism as ‘multidrug resistant’. P. aeruginosa was sourced from our internal culture collection . All other cultures were procured from MTCC (Microbial Type Culture Collection, Chandigarh, India).

Extraction

In order to identify the best possible extraction method with respect to the desired biological activity, we extracted the powder of the dried leaves in water using three different extraction methods: Decoction, Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE), and Vacuum Assisted Extraction (VAE). Decoction was selected as one of the methods because this is what the traditional folklore practice has been, whereas MAE and VAE were chosen as additional methods, as they have been known to have the advantages of shorter extraction time, and suitable for extraction of heat-labile phytocompounds too ( Gupta ; Wang ). Protocols employed for each extraction method are described below:

Decoction

Decoction of guava leaves was prepared in accordance to the traditional method described in the Ayurvedic texts ( Thakkur, 1976). 1 g of the plant material was boiled in 16 mL double distilled water, till the volume was reduced to 4 mL.

Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) ( Kothari )

1 g of leaf powder was soaked into 16 mL of water or 50% ethanol, and subjected to microwave heating (Electrolux EM30EC90SS) at 720 W. Total extraction duration was 140 s, of which first heating was for 40 s, and subsequent two heating cycles of 10 s each. Intermittent cooling period between any two heating cycles was kept 40 s. Liquid volume at the end of extraction was 4 mL.

Vacuum Assisted Extraction (VAE)

1 g of dry leaf powder was mixed with 16 mL of water. Vacuum pump (MEDICA INSTRUMENT Mfg. Co.) was attached to the vessel containing plant material and solvent, and the working pressure was set at 7.36 psi (15 In. Hg). Total duration of heating was 20 min, of which for 15 min the system was at 65°C (at which boiling started). Extraction was stopped when liquid volume was reduced to 4 mL.

Extraction performed by methods described above, was followed by macro-filtration using nylon strainer followed by centrifugation (at 10,000 rpm for 15 min; Remi BZCI-8729), and filtration with Whatman paper # 1 (Axiva, Haryana). After this filtration, solvent was evaporated from the extract. For bioassay, extracts was reconstituted in absolute DMSO (Merck, Mumbai). Reconstituted extracts were collected in sterile flat bottom glass vials (15 mL, Merck, Mumbai) covered with aluminum foil, and protected from light to avoid photo-oxidation of light-sensitive compounds. The internal surface of vial cap was also wrapped with aluminum foil to avoid leaching of vial cap material ( Houghton & Raman, 1998). Reconstituted extract was stored under refrigeration for further use. Extraction efficiency was calculated as percentage weight of the starting dried plant material.

Extraction efficiency obtained with these methods was 6.30%, 5.80%, and 6.0% respectively. All the extracts were reconstituted in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO, Merck) upon drying, and stored under refrigeration (4-8º C) till further use.

In vivo efficacy of these water extracts against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus was tested in the nematode host Caenorhabditis elegans, wherein the extract prepared by MAE had better anti-infective activity. Therefore, the extract prepared by MAE was compared with its hydroalcoholic extract prepared using the same method. Extraction efficiency obtained for the latter case was 2.0%.

In vivo assay for anti-infective activity

In vivo efficacy of the guava leaf extract (GLE) was evaluated using the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans as the model host, employing the method described by Eng & Nathan, (2015) with some modification. C. elegans was maintained on Nematode Growing Medium (NGM) which consisted of 3 g/L NaCl, 2.5 g/L peptone, 1 M CaCl 2, 1 M MgSO 4, 5 mg/mL cholesterol, 1 M phosphate buffer of pH 6, 17 g/L agar-agar with E. coli OP50 (procured from LabTIE B.V., JR Rosmalen, the Netherlands) as the feed. The worm population to be used for the in vivo assay was kept on NGM plates not seeded with E. coli OP50 for three days, before being challenged with the test pathogen.

Pathogenic bacteria was incubated with GLE for 22-24h (48 h in case of S. marcescens and S. aureus) at 37°C (28°C for S. marcescens). Appropriate vehicle control was also set wherein GLE was replaced with DMSO (0.5%v/v). Following incubation, OD 764 of the bacterial culture (grown in presence of GLE) suspension was equalized to that of the DMSO control. 100 μL of this bacterial suspension was mixed with 900 μL of the M9 buffer containing 10 worms (L3-L4 stage). This experiment was performed in 24-well (sterile, non-treated) polystyrene plates (HiMediaTPG24), and incubation was carried out at 22°C. Number of live vs. dead worms was counted daily for five days by putting the plate (with lid) under light microscope (4X). Standard antibiotic (gentamicin)- and catechin- treated bacterial suspension were used as positive control; since gentamicin is a known broad-spectrum bactericidal antibiotic ( Fitzgerald & Newquist, 2013), and catechin is a known anti-infective agent capable of modulating bacterial quorum sensing ( Joshi ) Straight worms were considered to be dead, Plates were gently tapped to confirm lack of movement in the dead-looking worms. On the last day of the experiment, when plates could be opened, their death was reconfirmed by touching them with a straight wire, wherein no movement was taken as confirmation of death.

Statistical analysis

Values reported are means of four independent experiments, whose statistical significance was assessed using t-test performed through Microsoft Excel (2013). P values ≤0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

Results

GLE prepared by three different methods were compared, at three different concentrations, for their anti-infective activity against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus ( Figure 1; Dataset 1: Underlying data). At 50 µg/mL, GLE prepared by MAE proved superior to that prepared by decoction or VAE method, with respect to its ability to attenuate P. aeruginosa’s virulence towards C. elegans. At 0.5 µg/mL, extract prepared by decoction method registered least activity against this bacterium. At the same concentration, against S. aureus, extract prepared by VAE displayed the least activity. Based on these results, we concluded MAE as a better extraction method, and then extracted guava leaves using this method in water as well as water:alcohol (1:1) mixture. Both of these extracts prepared using MAE were then assayed for their anti-infective potential against five different pathogenic bacteria.

Figure 1.

Comparison of in vivo anti-infective efficacy of P. guajava leaf extracts prepared by three different extraction methods, against P. aeruginosa ( A– C), and S. aureus ( D– F). Catechin (50 μg/mL) and gentamicin (0.1 μg/mL) employed as positive controls conferred 100% and 80% protection on the worm population, respectively. DMSO present in the ‘vehicle control’ at 0.5%v/v did not affect virulence of the bacterium towards C. elegans. DMSO (0.5%v/v) and GLE at tested concentrations showed no toxicity towards C. elegans. MAE: Microwave Assisted Extraction; VAE: Vacuum Assisted Extraction; GLE: Guava Leaf Extract.

Both water as well as the hydroalcoholic extract of guava leaves could attenuate virulence of all the test pathogens (except S. pyogenes) towards C. elegans ( Figure 2; Dataset 1: Underlying data). Both these extracts exhibited statistically similar anti-pathogenic efficacy against all susceptible bacteria, but the hydroalcoholic extract exhibited 10-15% better activity against S. aureus than the water extract. Despite the lowest extraction yield among all extracts reported in this study, the hydroalcoholic GLE was found to possess the highest (at par with water extract against all gram-negative pathogens) anti-pathogenic activity. Critical importance of choice of most appropriate extraction method and solvent for preparation of bioactive extracts has earlier been also emphasized by us ( Gupta ; Kothari ), and others ( Ngo ; Sasidharan ).

Figure 2.

Comparison of the in vivo anti-infective potential of water extract and hydroalcoholic extract of P. guajava leaf extracts prepared by Microwave Assisted Extraction method, against five different pathogenic bacteria.

Figures A– E shows data against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, S. marcescens, C. violaceum and S. pyogenes respectively. Catechin (50 μg/mL) employed as a positive control conferred 100% protection on worm population against all the pathogenic bacteria except S. pyogenes. Against S. pyogenes, catechin could not offer any protection to host worms. Gentamicin (0.1 μg/mL) allowed survival of worm population to the extent of 80% in face of P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, or S. pyogenes challenge; and 100% against the remaining two pathogens. DMSO present in the ‘vehicle control’ at 0.5%v/v did not affect virulence of the bacteria towards C. elegans. DMSO (0.5%v/v) and GLE at tested concentrations showed no toxicity towards C. elegans.

To have some insight into the mode of action of GLE, we incubated all the five test bacteria with GLE to investigate whether it affects bacterial growth and/or quorum-sensing (QS) regulated pigment production (a marker trait). Bacterial cell density and pigment production were quantified as earlier described by us ( Joshi ; Patel ). Pigment production in all the four pigmented bacteria was modulated at ≥1 concentration(s) of the GLE tested. ( Figure 3; Dataset 1: Underlying data). Since this extract did not inhibit bacterial growth heavily, it can be expected to exert lesser selection pressure (as opposed to potent bactericidal agents) on susceptible bacterial populations, and may not induce rapid development of resistant phenotypes. Ability of GLE to interfere with bacterial QS is an important observation, as QS in recent years has emerged as a potential target for novel anti-pathogenic agents ( Fong ). These ‘pathoblockers’ may attenuate virulence of the target pathogens without necessarily killing them ( Kamal ).

Figure 3.

Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of P. guajava leaves prepared by Microwave Assisted Extraction method on bacterial growth and QS-regulated pigment production.

( A) P. aeruginosa ( B) S. aureus ( C) S. marcescens ( D) C. violaceum ( E) S. pyogenes. Bacterial cell density and pigment production were quantified as earlier described by us ( Joshi ). Bacterial growth was measured as OD 764 for the four pigmented bacteria, while for S. pyogenes OD 660 was used. OD of pyoverdine was measured at 405 nm, and that of pyocyanin at 520 nm; Pyoverdine Unit was calculated as the ratio OD 405/OD 764 (an indication of pyoverdine production per unit of growth); Pyocyanin Unit was calculated as the ratio OD 520/OD 764 (an indication of pyocyanin production per unit of growth. OD of staphyloxanthin was measured at 450 nm, and Staphyloxanthin Unit was calculated as the ratio OD 450/OD 764 (an indication of staphyloxanthin production per unit of growth). OD of prodigiosin was measured at 535 nm, and Prodigiosin Unit was calculated as the ratio OD 535/OD 764 (an indication of prodigiosin production per unit of growth). OD of violacein was measured at 585 nm, and Violacein Unit was calculated as the ratio OD 585/OD 764 (an indication of violacein production per unit of growth). QS: Quorum sensing

Click here for additional data file.

Click here for additional data file.

Conclusion

Results of the present study validate the traditional use of guava leaves for medicinal purposes and suggests one of the possible mechanisms through which it exerts its anti-infective activity, i.e. its ability to interfere with the bacterial QS machinery. Further investigation regarding GLE’s effect on pathogenic bacteria at the whole transcriptome level is warranted to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-pathogenic efficacy.

Data availability

The data referenced by this article are under copyright with the following copyright statement: Copyright: © 2019 Patel P et al.

Data associated with the article are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Zero "No rights reserved" data waiver (CC0 1.0 Public domain dedication).

Underlying data

F1000Research: Raw data for Figure 1– Figure 3 showing the anti-infective efficacy of Psidium guajava L. leaves against pathogenic bacteria., https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.17500.d230522 ( Patel ).

Extended data

F1000Research: Details of organisms used in this study including antibiogram., https://doi.org/10.5256/f1000research.17500.d230521 ( Patel ).

Authors have satisfactorily addressed the concerned raised. I have no further comments to make.

I have read this submission. I believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard.

In this short study, the authors have studied anti-pathogenic potential of P. gujava leaves, which is an important plant in traditional medicine. It is good to see that among test bacteria, authors have included multi-drug resistant/beta-lactamase producing gram-negative bacteria, as it is difficult to find 'hits' against gram-negative bacteria in general. Their idea of comparing the same leaf extract prepared using different extraction methods also seems to be logical, as choice of the most appropriate extraction method is very much crucial while assessing the biological activity of plant extracts. It can have a significant bearing on the final results.

They have found MAE to be a good method. MAE has earlier been also reported by various groups to be an efficient extraction method, particularly for fast extraction of plant phenolic compounds. Further, they have used the worm  C. elegans as the model host for their test pathogens. This worm is a good choice for generating useful preliminary data on  in vivo efficacy of potential anti-pathogenic extracts/ formulations.

In the case of some bacteria like  P. aeruginosa, there is an overlap among virulence factors (e.g. pyocyanin) responsible for damaging the human cells and those killing the worm. They have also compared the GLE prepared in water vs. that prepared in water + alcohol, and have emphasized the importance of choice of most appropriate extraction method and solvent for preparation of bioactive extracts.

Their  in vitro experiments have provided a good clue on one of the possible ways regarding mode of action of GLE i.e. QS interference. QS in recent years has been reported by many research groups to be a target worth pursuing, in search of novel antimicrobials. Raw data submitted by the authors also seem to be in good shape, and in line with their findings reported in main text.

Overall, this seems to be an okay study, and can be approved for indexing without any major changes. However, in future the authors should try to come up with a full-length report describing molecular mechanisms at the genome/transcriptome level explaining the mechanistic basis of GLE's anti-pathogenic efficacy.

I have read this submission. I believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard.

Patel et al. study the anti-infective properties of  Psidium guajava leaf extract, against five different pathogenic bacteria. They use C. elegans as a model system to study the anti-infective efficiency of P. guajava leaf extract formulated from three different extraction methods. Overall this is an exciting paper, validates the traditional use of guava leaves for medicinal purposes and also a possible mechanism. The topic is important, and this paper adds something new to the pharmacology field.

The key finding of this study is that the water and hydroalcoholic extracts prepared using microwave-assisted extraction method could successfully attenuate the virulence of different pathogenic bacteria and also exhibit anti-infective property towards  C. elegans. I do not have any significant concerns or comments on the manuscript. However, there are some minor comments to improve the manuscript readability and understand the experiments.

The manuscript needs a more relevant background to understand the significance of the manuscript.

It would be useful to state why the authors have specifically used three extraction methods that are used in the paper over several extraction methods available in the field.

Under In vivo assay for anti-infective activity section, the sentence ‘ Pathogenic bacteria were incubated with GLE for 22-24h (48h in case of ’ is highly confusing so please rewrite with precise details.

The sentence ‘ Number of live vs. ’ should be written as ‘ Number of live vs. .’

In Figure 1B, please use consistent symbol shapes for each data set.

Graphs in Figure 2 are too small and crowded (it is difficult to appreciate the results), so please consider increasing the size of graphs or using different symbol shapes or think of presenting the data in bar graph format.

Please include the data for positive controls [catechin (50 μg/mL) and gentamicin (0.1 μg/mL)] in Figure 1 and 2.

Please provide scientific background for using catechin and gentamicin as positive controls.

The sentence ‘ At least one concentration of GLE was found to modulate pigment production in all the four pigmented bacteria (Figure 3; Dataset 1: Underlying data). This extract did not inhibit bacterial growth heavily, and hence can be expected to exert lesser selection pressure on susceptible bacterial populations.’ is difficult to understand so please consider rewriting with clear statements.

The results of Figure 3 need more discussion in further details in the context of published literature.

I have read this submission. I believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.

We thank both the referees for devoting their time in reviewing our manuscript. Our comment-wise response to referee-1’s comments is as under: Since this is a short ‘Research Note’, we have focused more on presenting our results, and refrained from adding too much content for ‘Discussion’.

Comment 1: A line has been added in ‘Introduction’ telling the significance of such studies aimed at validating the traditional medicine claims.

Comment 2: Basis of selection of these three extraction method has been added in the ‘Methods’ section under subheading ‘Extraction’.

Comments 3,4, and 9: Sentences have been rewritten to correct spelling mistake, and add clarity.

Comment 5: Error regarding symbol shape has been corrected in the revised version of Figure-1.

Comment 6: To avoid the crowded appearance of Figure-2, in the revised version, we have divided all the five parts A-E into two separate graphs, one for water extract, and another for hydroalcoholic extract.

Comment 7: Data for positive controls has already been there in legends of Figure 1-2. Adding separate lines for them in graph will again make the figures crowded.

Comment 8: Scientific background for selection of positive controls has been added under the heading “ In vivo assay for anti-infective activity”.

Comment 10: Relevant content has been added discussing the results of Figure-3, citing appropriate references.