Antibacterial Activity ofRhus javanicaagainst Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureus
In the present study, the leaves ofRhus javanica(R. javanica) were extracted with ethanol, and we investigated the antimicrobial activity of the ethanol extract ofR. javanicaagainst methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA). Control groups were treated with media containing 0.1% DMSO. The ethanol extract ofR. javanicainhibited the growth of MRSA at concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 mg/mL and inhibited acid production at concentrations higher than 0.1 mg/mL (P<0.05). MRSA biofilm formation was determined by scanning electron microscopy and safranin staining. The ethanol extract ofR. javanicainhibited the formation of MRSA biofilms at concentrations higher than 0.05 mg/mL. In confocal laser scanning microscopy, high concentration (0.4–1.6 mg/mL) ofR. javanicaextract showed bactericidal effect in a dose-dependent manner. In real-time PCR analysis,R. javanicaextract showed the inhibition of the genetic expression of virulence factors such asmecA,sea,agrA, andsarAin MRSA. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the strong presence of phenolics. These results suggest thatR. javanicamay be a useful medicinal plant for inhibiting MRSA, which may be related to the presence of phenolics in theR. javanicaextract.