Explore the antibiofilm ability of Ampelopsis cantoniensis extract against Staphylococcus aureus via experimental and computional approaches

Our study aimed to evaluate the anti-biofilm activity of the crude ethanolic extract of Ampelopsis cantoniensis against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolated from clinical specimens. Biofilm inhibition was assessed at 6, 16, and 24 h using two concentrations of the extract: 0.4 mg/ml (MIC) and 0.2 mg/ml (½ MIC). At the MIC concentration, the extract achieved a biofilm inhibition rate of 69.91% after 24 h. To explore the bioactive constituents responsible for this effect, virtual screening was conducted, identifying 3’,5’,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone as a promising anti-biofilm compound. Molecular docking analysis revealed that this compound interacts with Sortase A (SrtA) and SarA, two essential regulatory proteins involved in S. aureus biofilm formation. These findings suggest that A. cantoniensis, particularly its constituent 3′,5′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone, can be potential for the development of novel anti-biofilm agents targeting S. aureus.