Targeted inhibition of mecA and agrA genes in clinical MRSA isolates by natural bioactive compounds

The isolates exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics, including ampicillin, oxacillin, vancomycin, cefoxitin, and erythromycin. Curcumin and eugenol distinctly downregulated <i>mecA</i> and <i>agrA</i> expression levels. In particular, curcumin completely suppressed <i>mecA</i> gene expression in VITKV39 (0.0) and <i>agrA</i> expression in VITKV25 and MRSA (ATCC 43300) (0.0 and 0.1, respectively). Eugenol reduced both genes, <i>mecA</i> and <i>agrA</i>, in VITKV32 to 0.01 and 0.02, respectively. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of curcumin and eugenol as adjuncts to conventional antibiotics by targeting both resistance and virulence pathways in MRSA.