Benzyl isocyanate isolated from the leaves of inhibits biofilm formation.

Benzyl isocyanate (BIC), from methanol extract of leaves, exhibited substantial anti-biofilm activities against , the common bacterial pathogen in nosocomial infections. Major components of the extract included eugenol, BIC, phenyl-2-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)-acetate and 2,5-pyrrolidinedione,1-penta-3-4-dienyl, analyzed by GC-MS and HPLC studies. BIC exhibited substantial anti-biofilm activitiy against , established by assaying biofilm formation, biofilm metabolic activity, bacterial adherence to hydrocarbons, exopolysaccharide formation, and optical and scanning electron microscopic studies. BIC significantly downregulated the important biofilm markers of , AD, A and , observed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction analysis. Molecular docking studies revealed thermodynamically favorable interaction of BIC with IcaA, SarA and Agr, having Gibbs energy values of -8.45, -9.09 and -10.29 kcal mol, respectively. BIC after binding to IcaR, the repressor of IcaA, influences its binding to target DNA site (, -157.27 kcal mol). The results are considered to demonstrate anti-biofilm potential of BIC against bacterial infections.