(-)-Camphene-based derivatives as potential antibacterial agents against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp

To evaluate the activity of (-)-camphene-based thiosemicarbazide (TSC) and 4-hydroxy-thiosemicarbazone (4-OH-TSZ), alone and in combination against Gram-positive. MIC were determined for , spp. reference strains and clinical isolates. Drug combination, time-kill and cytotoxicity assays were also performed. TSC and 4-OH-TSZ demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against and spp., including multidrug-resistant isolates (MIC ranging from 1.9 to 31.2 μg/ml), and were bactericidal for the reference strains of both Gram-positive tested. The derivatives proved to be selective for the bacteria and synergistic with oxacillin and vancomycin. (-)-Camphene-based derivatives can represent promising drug candidates against critical pathogens, such as and spp., including MRSA and vancomycin resistance spp. isolates.