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. 2014 May 14;10(5):550–565. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.9028

Table 2.

Natural compounds as quorum sensing inhibitors.

Natural compound(s) Source QS activity Ref.
Furanone/ 2(5H)-Furanone/ Macroalga (Delisea pulchra) Mimics AHL signal by occupying the binding site on putative regulatory protein which results in the disruption of QS-mediated gene regulation. Inhibit biofilm formation in Aer. hydrophila 109, 17
Repress LuxR protein dependent expression of P(luxI)-gfp(ASV) reporter fusion. Inhibit virulence factor in E. coli XL-1. 110
(5Z)-4-bromo-5-(bromomethylene)-3-butyl-2(5H)-furanone. Macroalga (Delisea pulchra) Disrupts QS-regulated bioluminescence in V. harveyi by interacting with Hfq protein. Inhibit swarming motility and biofilm formation in E. coli 111, 112
Ajoene
(1-Allyldisulfanyl-3-(prop-2-ene-1-sulfinyl)-propene)
Garlic extract (Allium sativum) Blocks the QS-regulated productions of rhamnolipid resulting in phagocytosis of biofilm. Targets Gac/RSM part of QS and lowers the expression of regulatory RNAs in P. aeruginosa PAO1 113, 114
Iberin
(1-Isothiocyanato-3-(methylsulfinyl)propane)
Horseradish extract (Armoracia rusticana) Inhibit expression of QS-regulated lasB-gfp and rhlA-gfp genes responsible for virulence factor in P. aeruginosa 115
Sulforaphane
(1-Isothiocyanato-4-(methylsulfinyl)butane)
Boroccoli Reduce the expression of lasI-luxCDABE reporter in P. aeruginosa 116
Erucin (4-methylthiobutyl isothiocyanate) Boroccoli Reduce the expression of lasI-luxCDABE reporter in P. aeruginosa 116
Naringin
(4'5-diOH-Flavone-7-rhgluc)
Citrus extract Decrease the QS mediated biofilm formation and swimming motility in Y. enterocolitica 18
Naringenin
(4',5,7-Trihydroxyflavanone)
Malagasy bark extract (Combretum albiflorum) Reduces production of pyocyanin and elastase in P. aeruginosa PAO1. Also inhibit 3-oxo-C12-HSL and C4-HSL synthesis driven by lasl and rhll genes 117, 118
Taxifolin/ Distylin
(dihydroquercetin)
Malagasy plant extract (Combretum albiflorum) Reduces production of pyocyanin and elastase in P. aeruginosa PAO1 117
Morin (2',3,4',5,7-Pentahydroxyflavone) Grapefruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Inhibit LasR and RhlR dependent protease, elastase and hemolysin in P. aeruginosa PAO1 119, 120
Patulin/ Clavacin
(4-Hydroxy-4H-furo[3,2-c]pyran-2(6H)-one)
Penicillium sp. Targets the RhlR and LasR proteins. Down-regulates QS genes for biofilm formation and virulence in P. aeruginosa 121
Penicillic acid
(3-Methoxy-5-methyl-4-oxo-2,5-hexadienoic acid)
Penicillium sp. Down-regulates QS genes for biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa 121
Vanillin
(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde)
Vanilla beans extract (Vanilla planifolia Andrews) Interfere with AHL receptors. Inhibit C4-HSL, C6-HSL, C8-HSL, 3-oxo-C8-HSL. Inhibit biofilm formation in Aer. hydrophila 122, 123, 16
Agrocinopine B ( [(3S,4R,5R)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydroxy-2-oxohexyl] [(2R,3S,4S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-1-oxopentan-2-yl] hydrogen phosphate) Crown gall cells Control conjugation of pTiC58 by regulating exprssion of the arc operon in A. tumefaciens 124
L-canavanine
(L-α-Amino-γ-(guanidinooxy)-n-butyric acid)
Seed exudates (Medicao sativa) Inhibit the expression of QS-regulated phenotype exopolysaccharide II production in Si. meliloti 125
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
( 4-Aminobutanoic acid)
Plants (Arabidopsis sp.) Induce the expression of attKLM operon to stimulate inactivate 3-oxo-C8-HSL by A. tumefaciens lactonase AttM 126, 127
Rosmarinic acid (R-O-(3,4-Dihydroxycinnamoyl)-3-(3,4- dihydroxyphenyl) lactic acid) Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) Inhibit protease, elastase, hemolysin production, biofilm formation and virulence factor in P. aeruginosa 119, 108, 128
Salycilic acid (2-Methyl-5-tert-butylsalicylic acid) Plant phenolic secondary metabolite Inhibit the expression of vir regulon in A. tumefaciens. Also stimulates AHL-lactonase expression which degrades AHLs. 129
Chlorogenic acid (3-Caffeoylquinic acid) Plant extract (Moringa oleifera) Inhibit QS-regulated violacein production in C. violaceum 12472 130
Allin
(2-Amino-3-[prop-2-ene-1-sulfinyl]-propionic acid)
Garlic extract (Allium sativum) Inhibit QS-regulated gene expression by interacting with receptors in P. aeruginosa and make biofilm sensitive to antibiotics. 113, 131
Ursolic acid (3beta-Hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid) Plant extract (Sambucus chinesis) Inhibit biofilm formation by suppressing cystenine synthesis in E. coli 132, 133
Ellagic acid (Benzoaric acid) Fruit extract of Terminalia chebula Retz. Down-regulate the expression of virulence gene in P. aeruginosa PAO1. Reduces biofilm formation and swarming motility in B. cepacia 134, 135
α-Hydroxybutyric acid (2-hydroxy-butanoic acid) Arabidopsis exudates Induce the expression of attKLM-lacZ fusion in A. tumefaciens 136
Epigallocatechin gallate (Epigallocatechol) Green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) This compound has gallic acid moiety and specifically block AHL-mediated biofilm formation in Sta. aureus and B. cepacia. Inhibit transfer of conjugative R plasmid in E. coli 135, 137-139
Pyrogallol
(1,2,3-Trihydroxybenzene)
Plant extract (Punica granatum) Inhibit AI-2 mediated bioluminescence in V. harveyi 140, 141
Cinnamon oil/ Cynnamaldheyde ( trans-Cinnamaldehyde) Cinnamomum zeylanicum Interfere with AI-2 based QS and decreases the DNA-binding ability of LuxR protein to reduce virulence in V. spp. Reduces LuxR-mediated transcription from the PluxI promoter which influences biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa 142, 143
Furocoumarin/ Psoralen
(7H-Furo[3,2-g][1]benzopyran-7-one)
Grapefruit juice and extract (Psoralea corylifolia L.) The structural resemblance of furan moiety results in QS-mediated inhibition of biofilm formation in E. coli. Inhibit QS-mediated swarming motility in P. aerugionsa PAO1 144, 145
Urolithin
(3,8-Dihydroxy-benzo[c]chromen-6-one)
Ellagitannin-rich extract from Pomegranate Inhibit C6-HSL and 3-oxo-C6-HSL associated biofilm formation in Y. enterocolitica. Inhibit QS-mediated swarming motility in E. coli and P. aerugionsa PAO1 146, 147
Curcumin (E,E)-1,7-bis(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione From Curcuma longa Down-regulates virulence factors and biofilm initiation genes in P. aerugionsa PAO1 and inhibit its phenotype expression. 19
Attenuate QS-dependent EPS production, swarming motility and biofilm formation in uropathogenic E. coli, P. aerugionsa, Pr. mirabilis and S. marcescens. 148
α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-glycerol (floridoside) (N), Betonicine
(O), and Isethionic acid
Red alga (Ahnfeltiopsis flabelliformis) Inhibit C8-HSL mediated QS in A. tumefaciens NTL4 149
Musaceae Musaceae extract (Musa paradiciaca) Inhibit QS-mediated elastase production and biofilm formation in P. aerugionsa PAO1 150
Garlic Garlic extract Interferes with expression of QS-controlled virulence genes in P. aeruginosa 121
Piper betle Piper betle extract Inhibit QS-mediated biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa 151
Cuminum cyminum Cuminum cyminum extract Reduce LuxR dependent biofilm formation and swarming motility of P. aerugionsa 152