Bacterial neuraminidase inhibitory chalcones from flowers of Coreopsis lanceolata, their kinetic characterization and antibiofilm effect

Background: Bacteria within biofilms are thousand times more resistant to antibiotics. Neuraminidase is a crucial enzyme for bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, it hydrolyzes glycosidic residue of glycoproteins, glycolipids, and oligosaccharides. Coreopsis lanceolata L. flowers may have a significant potential of bacterial neuraminidase (BNA) inhibition because of high natural abundance of chalcones. Purpose: The investigation of bacterial biofilm inhibitors has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy against antibiotic resistance. Therefore, individual chalcones were isolated from C. lanceolata and their capacity to inhibit BNA and formation of Escherichia coli biofilm were evaluated. Methods: Different chromatographic techniques were used to isolate the compounds (1-12). Enzyme inhibition and detailed kinetic behavior of compounds was determined by estimation of kinetic parameters (MichaelisMenten constants (K-m), maximum velocity (V-max), dissociation constant for binding with the free enzyme (K-I) and enzyme-substate complex (K-IS)). Binding affinities (K-SV) and binding modes of inhibitors were elucidated by fluorescence quenching and molecular docking, respectively. The natural abundance of chalcones was established through UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. The most potent inhibitor (1) was tested for its ability to inhibit the formation of E. coli biofilm, which was examined by crystal violet assay, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Results: A series of eight chalcones (1-8) and four chalcone glucosides (9-12), inhibited BNA in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 of 8.3 similar to 77.0 mu M. The most potent chalcones were butein (1, IC50 = 8.3 mu M) and its glucoside 9 (IC50 = 13.8 mu M). The aglycones (1-8) showed non-competitive inhibition, while chalcone glucosides (9-12) displayed a mixed type I (KI < KIS). Inhibitory behaviors were doubly confirmed by KSV and matched with tendency of IC50. The functional group responsible for BNA inhibition were disclosed as 4'-hydroxyl group on Bring by structure activity relationship (SAR) and molecular docking experiments. Butein (1) suppressed E. coli biofilm formation by > 50 % at 100 mu M according to crystal violet assay, which was confirmed by SEM and CLSM imaging. Conclusion: The results showed that chalcones (1-8) and chalcone glucosides (9-12), metabolites isolated from the flowers of C. lanceolata, had BNA inhibitory and antibiofilm formation effect on E. coli.