Antimicrobial potential of Alpinia purpurata lectin (ApuL): Growth inhibitory action, synergistic effects in combination with antibiotics, and antibiofilm activity

The Alpinia purpurata inflorescence contains a lectin (ApuL), which has immunomodulatory activities on human cells. In the present work, it was evaluated the antibacterial and antifungal effects of ApuL against human pathogens. ApuL showed bacteriostatic activity against non-resistant (UFPEDA-02) and an oxacillin-resistant isolate (UFPEDA-672) of Staphylococcus aureus with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC50) of 50 and 400 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, it showed bactericidal effect on the non-resistant isolate (minimal bactericidal concentration: 200 μg/mL). For Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis, ApuL showed fungistatic effect (MIC50: 200 and 400 μg/mL, respectively). The lectin was able to impair the viability of the microorganism cells, as indicated by propidium iodide (PI) staining. Analysis of growth curves, protein leakage, and ultrastructural changes supported that ApuL acts through distinct mechanisms on S. aureus isolates. Ultrastructural analysis of ApuL-treated Candida cells revealed malformations with elongations and bulges. ApuL-oxacillin combination showed synergistic effect on the oxacillin-resistant isolates UFPEDA-670 and 671, which were not sensitive to lectin alone. Synergism was also detected for ApuL-ceftazidime against a multidrug-resistant isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Synergistic action of ApuL-fluconazole was detected for C. parapsilosis, which was insensitive to the drug alone. Biofilm formation by S. aureus non-resistant isolate and C. albicans was remarkably inhibited by ApuL at sub-inhibitory concentrations. In conclusion, ApuL showed differential effects on non-resistant and resistant bacterial isolates, was active against Candida species, and showed synergistic action in combination with antibiotics. •Alpinia purpurata inflorescence lectin (ApuL) showed antimicrobial action.•ApuL impaired growth and viability of S. aureus and Candida isolates.•ApuL-treated Candida cells showed malformations with elongations and bulges.•Biofilm formation by S. aureus and C. albicans was inhibited by ApuL.•ApuL showed synergistic action in combination with oxacillin, ceftazidime and fluconazole.