Anti-quorum sensing and anti-biofilm activity of Amomum tsaoko (Amommum tsao-ko Crevost et Lemarie) on foodborne pathogens

Cell-to-cell communication or quorum sensing (QS) leads to biofilm formation and causing other virulence factors which are extreme problems for food safety, biofilm related infectious diseases etc. This study evaluated the anti-QS activity of the Amomum tsaoko extract (0.5–4 mg/ml) by using Chromobacterium violaceum a biosensor strain and biofilm formation by crystal violate assay. Experimental results demonstrated that the overall yield of Amomum tsao-ko extract was 11.33 ± 0.3% (w/w). MIC for Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive), Salmonella Typhimurium and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram negative) was 1, 2 and 2 mg/ml, respectively. A concentration of 4 mg/ml extract showed highest biofilm inhibition 51.96% on S. Typhimurium when 47.06%, 45.28% were shown by S. aureus, P. aeruginosa respectively. The damage of biofilm architecture was observed by Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM). A level of 44.59% inhibition of violacein production was demonstrated when the dose was 4 mg/ml. Swarming motility inhibition was observed in a dose dependent manner. Taken together, the treatment of A. tsaoko extract can deliver value to food product and medicine by controlling pathogenesis.