Commiphora myrrha resin extract inhibits the biofilms and quorum sensing controlled virulence factors of Gram-negative foodborne bacterial pathogens

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat. Multi-drug-resistant pathogens now cause significant mortality worldwide. Widespread antibiotic misuse has fueled resistance, prompting interest in antivirulence approaches over traditional bactericidal drugs. Targeting biofilms and quorum sensing (QS) is a promising antimicrobial strategy, recognized as an effective inhibitor. In the current study, <i>Commiphora myrrha</i> was assessed on the virulent traits and biofilms of Gram-negative bacteria (<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> PAO1, <i>Serratia marcescens</i> MTCC 97, <i>Chromobacterium violaceum</i> ATCC 12472, and <i>Proteus mirabilis</i> MTCC 425). Methanolic extract of <i>C. myrrha</i> resin was prepared, and MIC was determined using the microdilution method. At sub-MICs, violacein production, QS-regulated virulence factors and biofilm development were estimated using spectroscopic assays. Phytochemicals were investigated using GC/MS analysis. Molecular docking was conducted between the QS-associated proteins (LasR, RhlR, and CviR) and the most abundant phytocompound of <i>C. myrrha</i>. MIC of CMRE against test strains was in the range of 0.5, and 2 mg/ml. CMRE reduced the violacein production in <i>C. violaceum</i> 12472 by 82.7%. In <i>P. aeruginosa</i> PAO1, production of virulence factors was reduced by >70%. The cell surface hydrophobicity was decreased to 18.9% compared to the control cells of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> PAO1 (76.4%). CMRE at ½ × MIC resulted in reduced biofilm formation in the range of 69.1-76.9%. A similar dose-dependent effect was observed on the exopolysaccharides production of the tested Gram-negative bacteria. Curzerene was identified as the most abundant (18.56%) phytoconstituent. Molecular docking revealed that curzerene interacted at the active sites of the tested proteins. Finally, molecular simulations validated the stability of curzerene with these proteins under an aqueous environment. The findings of this study may prove to be useful in the development of new anti-virulence bacterial drugs against Gram-negative bacteria.