In vivo efficacy of pyochelin-mediated delivery of zingerone in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced peritonitis.

Aim: The efficacy of a pyochelin-zingerone conjugate (PZC) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo in a mouse model of peritonitis, as well as mode of action in vitro, were investigated. Methods & results: Intraperitoneal administration of PZC (220 mg kg-1 b.wt.) resulted in a significant reduction in bacterial count in liver tissue by 2 log10 on the 4th day post infection. This was supported by reduced levels of inflammatory markers, liver function, inflammatory cytokines and improved histopathology. PZC showed its ability to disrupt the cellular membrane, increase permeability of the membrane and leakage of intracellular contents of P. aeruginosa, resulting in its death. Conclusion: The present study reports the hepatoprotective potential of PZC in an experimental model of P. aeruginosa-induced peritonitis.

Design, synthesis, molecular docking, anti-quorum sensing, and anti-biofilm activity of pyochelin-zingerone conjugate.

In this article, we report the chemical synthesis of pyochelin-zingerone conjugate via a hydrolysable ester linkage for drug delivery as a "Trojan Horse Strategy." It is a new therapeutic approach to combat microbial infection and to address the issue of multi drug resistance in Gram-negative, nosocomial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pyochelin (Pch) is a catecholate type of phenolate siderophore produced and utilized by the pathogen P. aeruginosa to assimilate iron when colonizing the vertebrate host. Zingerone, is active component present in ginger, a dietary herb known for its anti-virulent approach against P. aeruginosa. In the present study, zingerone was exploited to act as a good substitute for existing antibiotics, known to have developed resistance by most pathogens. Encouraging results were obtained by docking analysis of pyochelin-zingerone conjugate with FptA, the outer membrane receptor of pyochelin. Conjugate also showed anti-quorum sensing activity and also inhibited swimming, swarming, and twitching motilities as well as biofilm formation in vitro.