Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Bacterial Apoptosis-Like Death through Accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species by Quercetin in Escherichia coli

  • Min Seok Kwun (School of Life Sciences, BK 21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University) ;
  • Dong Gun Lee (School of Life Sciences, BK 21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University)
  • Received : 2024.03.28
  • Accepted : 2024.05.28
  • Published : 2024.07.28
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Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of the natural compounds from plant and food have well discovered since the interest on the beneficial effect of the natural compounds was risen. Quercetin, a flavonoid derived from vegetables, including onions, red leaf lettuces and cherries has been studied for diverse biological characteristics as anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities. The aim of current study is to investigate the specific antibacterial modes of action of quercetin against Escherichia coli. Quercetin decreased the E. coli cell viability and induced the severe damages (oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation) leading to cell death. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was observed during the process, which we confirmed that oxidative stress was the key action of antibacterial activity of quercetin exerting its influence potently. Based on the results of Annexin V and Caspace FITC-VAD-FMK assay, the oxidative damage in E. coli has led to the bacterial apoptosis-like death in E. coli. To sum up, the contribution of ROS generation exerts crucial impact in antibacterial activity of quercetin.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (2022R1A2C1011642).

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