Antibacterial Activity of Flavonoids Against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains

An experimental and theoretical study was performed on the anti-staphylococcal activity of 18 natural and synthetic flavonoids against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. The analysed flavonoids belong to three well-differentiated structural patterns: chalcones, flavanones and flavones. The quantitative analysis of the anti-staphylococcal activity of the compounds was carried out by determining their percent inhibition degree. The hierarchical cluster analysis method was used to analyse the anti-MRSA activity of the compounds. With this methodology, the flavonoids were classified into four groups according to their anti-staphylococcal activity (high, sufficient, intermediate and low). The carbonylic region is of importance because it is part of the bioactive region inducing anti-MRSA activity in the flavonoid molecules. The introduction of OH groups in positions 2′ of chalcones and 5 of flavanones (or flavones) increases flavonoid activity, while the OCH3groups produce the reverse effect. Using the experimental anti-MRSA activity data of flavonoids and six quantum chemical parameters calculated by means of the AM1 semiempirical molecular orbital method, a very good quantitative structure–activity relationship was obtained (confidence range: 95%; significance level for tests: 0.05; correlation coefficient=0.9842). The selected parameters explain 96.86% of the percent inhibition degree. The obtained relation is consistent with the conclusions formulated in this paper and serves as a theoretical support for some of them. Finally, it is concluded that the flavonoids chalcone, 2′(OH)-chalcone, 2′,4′(OH)2-chalcone and 2′,4(OH)2-chalcone might constitute promising therapeutic agents against infections with methicillin-resistantS. aureus strains.