Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Membrane-Active Bakuchiol Derivatives as Effective Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Agents

J Med Chem. 2021 May 13;64(9):5603-5619. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02059. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Abstract

Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria seriously endanger human health and global public health. Therefore, it is urgent to discover and develop novel antimicrobial agents to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of new membrane-active bakuchiol derivatives by biomimicking the structure and function of cationic antibacterial peptides. The most promising compound 28 displayed potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC = 1.56-3.125 μg/mL) and Gram-negative bacteria (MIC = 3.125 μg/mL), very weak hemolytic activity, and low cytotoxicity. Compound 28 had rapid bactericidal properties and avoided bacterial resistance. More importantly, compound 28 showed strong in vivo antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in murine corneal infection models. This design strategy is expected to provide an effective solution to the antibiotic crisis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Corneal Diseases / drug therapy
  • Corneal Diseases / microbiology
  • Corneal Diseases / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Design*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Hemolysis / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Phenols / chemistry*
  • Phenols / pharmacology
  • Phenols / therapeutic use
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Phenols
  • bakuchiol