Efficacy of Rhamnus frangula extract against Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms: Histopathological evidence from ex vivo goat models

Rony Varughese,Riya Mariam; Pathoor,Naji Naseef; Ranganathan,Priyadharshini; Ganesh,Pitchaipillai Sankar

doi:10.3892/wasj.2025.324

Efficacy of Rhamnus frangula extract against Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms: Histopathological evidence from ex vivo goat models

Authors:
- Riya Mariam Rony Varughese
- Naji Naseef Pathoor
- Priyadharshini Ranganathan
- Pitchaipillai Sankar Ganesh
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Affiliations: Department of Pathology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 077, India, Department of Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 077, India, Department of Oral Pathology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600 077, India
Published online on: February 12, 2025 https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2025.324
Article Number: 36
Copyright : © Rony Varughese et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].

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Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a Gram‑negative pathogen notorious for causing severe nosocomial infections, largely due to its ability to form biofilms that enhance antibiotic resistance and complicate treatment strategies. The present study explored the therapeutic potential of Rhamnus frangula (R. frangula) extract in mitigating A. baumannii‑induced biofilm formation and related organ damage in goat tissue samples. The efficacy of the extract was assessed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests, histopathological evaluations of heart, lung, liver, kidney and spleen tissues, biofilm inhibition assays, and growth curve analysis. The MIC assay demonstrated that R. frangula extract effectively inhibited A. baumannii growth at a concentration of 5 mg/ml. Histopathological analysis revealed significant reductions in bacterial load and inflammatory infiltrates across all examined organs, with notable improvements, such as decreased myofibril disintegration in cardiac tissue and reduced alveolar damage in lung tissue. Furthermore, at a sub‑MIC of 2.5 mg/ml, R. frangula extract reduced biofilm formation by 67.26%, while exhibiting no effect on planktonic bacterial growth, highlighting its specific antibiofilm activity. These findings underscore the potential of R. frangula extract as a promising natural therapeutic agent for the treatment of biofilm‑associated infections and mitigating tissue damage caused by A. baumannii. However, further investigations into its molecular mechanisms and potential clinical applications are warranted to address the escalating challenge of antibiotic resistance and improve infection management strategies.

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