Find in Library

<i>Gnaphalium hypoleucum</i> DC. was first recorded in the Chinese National Pharmacopoeia “Yi Plant Medicine”. There is no detailed report on its main components’ activity in suppressing the quorum sensing activity (QS) of bacteria. Our study aimed to screen the main components in extracts of <i>G. hypoleucum</i> DC. in order to measure their effects on bacterial QS activity and to explore specific quorum sensing mechanisms that are affected by <i>G</i><i>. hypoleucum</i> DC. extracts. Crude extracts of <i>G. hypoleucum</i> DC. contained significant amounts of two compounds shown to inhibit bacterial QS activity, namely apigenin and luteolin. Apigenin and luteolin in crude extracts of <i>G. hypoleucum</i> DC. showed substantial inhibition of pigment formation, biofilm production, and motility in <i>Chromobacterium violaceum</i> ATCC 12472 compared to the effects of other phytochemicals from <i>G. hypoleucum</i> DC. Apigenin and luteolin exhibited a strong QS inhibitory effect on <i>C. violaceum</i>, interfering with the violacein pigment biosynthesis by downregulating the <i>vioB</i>, <i>vioC</i>, and <i>vio</i><i>D</i> genes. In the presence of signal molecules, the QS effect is prevented, and the selected compounds can still inhibit the production of the characteristic purple pigment in <i>C. violaceum</i>. Based on qualitative and quantitative research using genomics and bioinformatics, we concluded that apigenin and luteolin in crude extracts of <i>G. hypoleucum</i> DC can interfere with the generation of QS in <i>C. violaceum</i> by downregulating the <i>vioB</i>, <i>vioC</i>, and <i>vio</i><i>D</i> genes. Indeed, <i>G. hypoleucum</i> DC. is used for the treatment of bacterial infections, and this research provides new ideas and potential alternative uses for medicinal plants.