Mechanism of action of isolated caffeic acid and epicatechin 3-gallate from Euphorbia hirta against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Epicatechin 3-gallate (ECG) and caffeic acid (CA) exhibited remarkable bactericidal abilities by increasing the outer membrane and plasma membrane permeability of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> pathogenECG and CA had facilitated the entry of hydrophobic antibiotics into <i>P. aeruginosa</i> by disintegrating the lipopolysaccharides layer of the outer membraneECG-induced potassium efflux with efficiency close to that obtained with cefepime suggesting mode of action through membrane disruptionBoth ECG and CA had caused consistent leakage of intracellular nucleotide content with the increase in time. <b>Abbreviations used:</b> ECG: Epicatechin 3-gallate; CA: Caffeic acid; <i>E. hirta</i>: Euphoria hirta.