Document Type : Full research article
Authors
- Saber Samadiafshar 1
- Somayeh Farahmand 2
- Ali Nikakhtar 2
- nadia Garmsiri 2
- Farnia Garmsiri 2
- Sahel Samadiafshar 3
- Roghayeh Azizi 2
1 Pediatric Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IRAN
2 Department of Biology, Payame Noor University (PNU), Tehran, IRAN.
3 Research Development Unit, Taleghani Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Abstract
Urinary tract infections represent a global health challenge increasingly complicated by antimicrobial resistance. This study explores the therapeutic potential of Stachys schtschegleevii essential oil against common uropathogens. Gas chromatographic-Mass Spectrometry analysis revealed four principal bioactive compounds (α-Pinene, β-Pinene, Linalool, and Hexadecanoic Acid) exhibiting remarkable synergistic antimicrobial activity. Molecular docking simulations demonstrated exceptional binding affinities between these phytocompounds and bacterial dihydrofolate reductase enzymes, with α-Pinene and β-Pinene forming strongest complexes with Enterococcus faecalis DHFR (-6.1 kcal/mol) and Hexadecanoic Acid with Staphylococcus aureus DHFR (-6.1 kcal/mol). In vitro evaluation confirmed significant antimicrobial efficacy, with substantial inhibition zones (E. faecalis 20.16±0.2mm, E. coli 17.7±0.45mm, S. aureus 20.53±1.47mm) and impressive minimum inhibitory concentrations (E. faecalis 6.25mg/ml, E. coli 1.56mg/ml, S. aureus 3.12mg/ml). The multi-component nature of these extracts creates a complementary mechanism of action whereby multiple compounds simultaneously target different bacterial pathways, significantly reducing resistance development probability compared to single-compound therapeutics. This synergistic interaction, coupled with the plant's documented anti-inflammatory properties, presents schtschegleevii as an exceptional candidate for developing novel phytotherapeutic approaches against increasingly resistant uropathogens, offering an optimal balance of therapeutic efficacy, economic viability, and patient safety in urinary tract infection management.
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