Influence of oxidative stress on the antibacterial activity of betulin, betulinic acid and ursolic acid

Contribution of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress in the antibacterial activities of betulin, betulinic acid and ursolic acid against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of betulin, betulinic acid and ursolic acid against E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus are 1024-, 256- and 1024-μg/mL; 512-, 256- and 256 μg/mL; 256-, 256- and 64 μg/mL respectively. Cell viability of betulin-, betulinic acid- and ursolic acid-treated bacteria decrease in time dependent manner. Treatment of bacteria in the presence of 2,2′-bipyrydyl increased cell viability. Superoxide anion radical production increased significantly (p < 0.05) in bacterial cells-treated with betulin, betulinic acid and ursolic acid. Furthermore, NAD+/NADH ratio increased significantly (p < 0.05) in betulin-, betulinic acid- and ursolic acid-treated bacteria. Similarly, level of reduced glutathione in E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus decreased significantly with corresponding increase in glutathione disulphide, malondialdehyde and fragmented DNA following betulin, betulinic acid and ursolic acid treatments. It is evident from the above findings that betulin, betulinic acid and ursolic acid enhanced electron transport chain activity in E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus leading to increased ROS generation, Fenton reaction, lipid peroxidation, fragmented DNA and consequentially bacterial death.