SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-021-05116-2.
RESULTS: Three acylated analogues were produced: quercetin 4'-oleate (C33H42O8), quercetin 3',4'-dioleate (C51H74O9) and quercetin 7,3',4'-trioleate (C69H106O10). Their identities were confirmed with UPLC-ESI-MS and (1)H NMR analyses. The effects of temperature, duration and molar ratio of substrates on the bioconversion yields varied across conditions. The regioselectivity of the acylated quercetin analogues was affected by the molar ratio of substrates. TLC showed the acylated analogues had higher lipophilicity (152% increase) compared to quercetin. Partition coefficient (log P) of quercetin 4'-oleate was higher than those of quercetin and oleic acid. Quercetin 4'-oleate was also stable over 28 days of storage.
CONCLUSIONS: Quercetin oleate esters with enhanced lipophilicity can be produced via lipase-catalyzed reaction using C. antarctica lipase B to be used in topical applications.
METHODS AND RESULTS: The pulp of red pitahaya and the leaves of red spinach were extracted using methanol followed by subfractionation to obtain betacyanin fraction. The anti-biofilm activity was examined using broth microdilution assay on polystyrene surfaces and expressed as minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC). The betacyanin fraction from red spinach showed better anti-biofilm activity (MBIC: 0·313-1·25 mg ml-1 ) against five Staph. aureus strains while the betacyanin fraction from red pitahaya showed better anti-biofilm activity (MBIC: 0·313-0·625 mg ml-1 ) against four P. aeruginosa strains. Both betacyanin fraction significantly reduced hydrophobicity of Staph. aureus and P. aeruginosa strains. Numbers of Staph. aureus and P. aeruginosa attached to polystyrene were also reduced without affecting their cell viability.
CONCLUSION: Betacyanins can act as anti-biofilm agents against the initial step of biofilm formation, particularly on a hydrophobic surface like polystyrene.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first to investigate the use of betacyanin as a biofilm inhibitory agent. Betacyanin could potentially be used to reduce the risk of biofilm-associated infections.