Quorum Quenching Potential of the Indigenous Kalimantan Fern Stenochlaena palustris Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Abstract

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Plant-derived compounds that disrupt bacterial quorum sensing (QS) provide alternatives to combat antibiotic resistance. This quorum quenching (QQ) strategy reduces virulence without inhibiting growth, thus minimizing resistance. Kelakai (<i>Stenochlaena palustris</i> (Burm.) Bedd.), an endemic Kalimantan plant traditionally used by the Dayak people, was evaluated for QQ activity against <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Ethanolic extract of <i>S. palustris</i> leaves was prepared by maceration with 96% ethanol. The extract was tested for inhibition of <i>P. aeruginosa </i>motility, pyocyanin production and LasA activity. Antibiofilm effects were assessed using the microtiter plate method, EPS quantified, chemical profiling performed by Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and acute toxicity evaluated in <i>Rasbora lateristriata</i> embryos. The results from three independent trials were analyzed in SPSS using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunn's test, with significance set at p<0.05. <b>Results:</b> At 0.25 mg/mL, the extract inhibited swarming and twitching by 58.04±0.46% and 64.98±0.25%, reduced LasA activity to 58.27±0.70% and reduced pyocyanin to 49.96±1.15%. Although antibacterial activity was weak, at a concentration of 0.25 mg/mL the extract caused 52.47±0.58% inhibition of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> biofilm formation and <i>P. aeruginosa</i> EPS was reduced to 67.40±0.54% of the untreated control. At a concentration of 1 mg/mL, pre-formed biofilm was eradicated as much as 58.52±0.23%. The LC-HRMS identified (-)-Strychnine, D-(+)-Pipecolinic acid and Ethyl oleate as major constituents. Toxicity testing revealed developmental toxicity in embryos at 0.06 mg/mL. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Stenochlaena palustris</i> ethanol extract showed strong QQ activity against <i>P. aeruginosa</i>, underscoring its potential as a natural anti-infective. Further isolation of active compounds with reduced toxicity is required for therapeutic development.