Asarum Inhibits agrA, sarA, sea, and mecA Expressions of MRSA

Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of important causes of intractable oral infections. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of Asarum on virulence gene expressions of MRSA.
Methods: Inhibitory effects of Asarum on growth, metabolism and biofilm formation of MRSA were investigated. Real-time PCR analysis was also performed to evaluate Asarum influence on the virulence gene expressions in MRSA. The chemical composition of Asarum was analyzed by GC-MS.
Results: The Asarum (1–8 mg/mL) significantly inhibited the growth and sugar metabolism of MRSA (93.2%). The biofilm formation was also inhibited (91.7%). The expressions of virulence genes such as agrA, sarA, sea, and mecA were decreased by Asarum. The major components, eucarvone (24.8%), δ-3-carene (14.1%), and methyl eugenol (13.7%) were identified by GC-MS.
Conclusions: These results suggest that Asarum may inhibits expression of virulence genes of MRSA.