Reversal of efflux‐mediated tetracycline resistance in <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> clinical isolates by <i>Ginseng</i> prosapogenins

Abstract

Abstract A pair of tetracycline‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains carrying different resistance determinants, tetK and tetM , were employed to screen some ginseng prosapogenins as antagonists of tetracycline resistance. The tetK gene encodes TetK efflux pump and the tetM gene define a ribosomal‐level resistance. The susceptibility of two strains to tetracycline was measured in parallel in the presence of various concentrations of test compounds. The efflux pump not ribosomal protection was adversely affected by ginsenosides Rh 2 , F 1 , 20‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐20(S)‐dammar‐3, 20‐diol (compound K), 20(R)‐ginsenoside Rh 2 and their aglycones at nontoxic concentrations, reversing tetracycline resistance in the tetK ‐carrying S. aureus .