GC-MS Profiling andIn vitroAntibacterial, Anti-Biofilm and Anti-adhesive Activities ofTamarix ericoidesRottl. Leaf Extract Against Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infectious Agents
Authors: Poyil Muhammad Musthafa , Alsharif Mohammed H Karrar , El-Bidawy Mahmoud H. , Alqahtani Mohammed Saad , Mohamed Alarabi Tarig Gasim , Albadrani Ahmed Abdullah , Mohamed Hamid Alaa Azhari , Radwan Arafah Abdullah Mohammed , Tawab Ahmed Abdel , Alqasem Saad , Al-Gonaim Ali 
Published: January 2025

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is one of the most important nosocomial infections among hospitalized patients and causes serious complications due to the development of drug-resistant, biofilms forming strains of microorganisms resulting in treatment challenges. As the chemical catheter-coating agents often fail to prevent biofilm formation, the researchers are looking for compounds of natural origin, and the phytocompounds with multiple modes of action pose as a promising option. Thus, the present study investigated the antibacterial anti-biofilm potentials of the phytocompounds in one of the least explored medicinal plants -Tamarix ericoidesRottl. and its leaf methanolic extract was analyzed againstEscherichia coli– one of the most notorious multidrug-resistant, biofilm- forming uropathogens in CAUTIs. The well-diffusion method showed the antibacterial activity of methanolic leaf extract againstE. coliand using the microdilution method, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract againstE. coliwas calculated as 1 mg/ml. GC-MS profiling of methanolic fractions ofT. ericoidesshowed the presence of eight important phytochemicals such as diethyl phthalate, ethanol, 2-[2-[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]ethoxy]-, n-hexadecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, (E)-, 9,12-octadecadien-1-ol, (Z,Z)-octadecanoic acid, -hydroxy-3-(1,1-dimethylprop-2-enyl) coumarin and Cholestan-3,22,26-triol 16-[2- [formylthio]ethyl]- that are responsible for antibacterial activities. The killing kinetics ofT. ericoidesleaf extract againstE. colishowed at 1 h. Further, the antibiofilm activity ofT. ericoidesleaf extract againstE. colion nonliving surfaces was analyzed and quantified by crystal violet assay.T. ericoidesleaf extract reduced mature biofilms ofE. coliby 81%, 85%, and 89 % after treatment with 1X MIC (1 mg/ml), 2X MIC (2 mg/ml), and 3X MIC (3mg/ml) concentrations of the extract respectively. This was further confirmed using SEM analysis wherein biofilm reduction was observed when compared to untreated. The catheter coating withT. ericoidesleaf extract showed antibacterial activity in thein vitrobladder model and was quantified based on colony count. The CLSM reveals the anti-adhesive property ofT. ericoidesleaf extract on the catheter surface which reduced the biofilm formation and biofilm thickness when contacted withE. colicells. Also, 82% of dead cells were observed in the FDA and PI combination. Further, SEM showed the impact ofT. ericoidesleaf extract onE. colicell morphology as the cells displayed damage including cell shrinkage. Furthermore, the leaf extract was found to be non-toxic to normal cells. Based on the findings, the authors recommend further investigation to developT. ericoidesleaf extract as a potential catheter coating agent to manage CAUTIs.