Antibacterial Activity of and Against ESKAPE Pathogens.

Plants in the genus (Family: Crassulaceae) are used in traditional medicine throughout the tropics for treating a variety of conditions. Two species, and , have established ethnobotanical usage but have been neglected in previous research concerning their potential bioactivity. Here, we provide a thorough review of the reported antimicrobial activities of genus and evaluate the antibacterial effects of two previously unexplored species against a panel of multidrug-resistant bacteria, the ESKAPE pathogens (, and ). Plant specimens were collected and voucher specimens deposited in the Emory University Herbarium. Dried plant material was ground into a powder and extracted as ethanolic macerations or as aqueous decoctions. Extracts were tested against the ESKAPE pathogens for growth inhibitory activity. Cytotoxicity to human cells was assessed via a lactate dehydrogenase assay of treated human keratinocytes (HaCaTs). extracts demonstrated growth inhibitory effects against two Gram-negative species, (strain CDC-33) and (AH-71), as well as (UAMS-1). In these cases, growth inhibition greater than 50% (IC) was generally observed at concentrations of 256 μg mL, though one extract (1465, prepared from stems) exhibited an IC against at 128 μg mL. All extracts were well tolerated by HaCaTs (LD ≥ 256 μg mL). Chemical characterization using HPLC and chemical standards established the presence of caffeic acid and quercetin in both plant species, as well as kaempferol in These results reveal to be a plant of medicinal interest, and future research should aim to characterize the bioactivity of this species and its active constituents through bioassay-guide fractionation. Effects on bacterial biofilm formation and quorum-sensing are also research topics of interest for this genus.