Extracts of medical plants suppress the SOS response and reduce mutagenesis in E. coli

Abstract

One of the promising directions in the fight against the emergence and spread of farm animal microbiota resistance factors is the development and search for feed additives that can inhibit the SOSresponse. SOS-response is one of the main mechanisms of the occurrence of mutations in bacteria. Plants used in traditional medicine can be a promising source of safe substances that reduce the SOS-response of bacteria. A screening of plants potentially containing substances with antiSOS activity was performed. During the initial screening, the E. coli MG 1655 pRecA-lux biosensor strain with ciprofloxacin as RecA inducer was used. Seven plants were identified whose extracts reduced the expression of the RecA operon. In further experiments on bacteria exposed to antibiotics, we identified four plants whose exstracts significantly reduced the mutagenesis rate of clinical E. coli strains: Austrian broom (Cytisus austriacus), greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), walnut (Juglans regia) and smooth sumac (Rhus glabra).