Plant Based Natural Products as Quorum Sensing Inhibitors in E. Coli: A Critical Review

The existence of multidrug–resistant (MDR) E. coli (superbugs) is a global health issue confronting humans, livestock, food processing units, and pharmaceutical industries. The quorum sensing (QS) controlling ability of the E. coli to form biofilms has become one of the important reasons for the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Quorum signaling activation and formation of biofilm lead to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance of the pathogens increasing the therapy difficult for treating bacterial diseases. There is a crucial need, therefore, to reinforce newer therapeutic designs to overcome this resistance. As the infections caused by E. coli are attributed via the QSregulated biofilm formation, easing this system by QS inhibitors is a possible strategy for treating bacterial diseases. Plant based natural products have been reported to bind to QS receptors and interrupt the QS systems of pathogens by inhibiting biofilm formation and disrupting the formed biofilms, thus minimizing the chances to develop a resistance mechanism. The present report reviews critically the QS capability of E. coli to form biofilms leading to multidrug resistant pathogens and the investigations that have been carried out so far on plant acquired natural products as QS inhibitors.