Synergistic Effect of Biogenics Derived from Potential Probiotics Together with Zingerone Against Biofilm Formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

Biogenics are compounds produced by living organisms such as animals, plants, bacteria, etc. Probiotics and their biogenics are known for their antimicrobial potential. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the antibiofilm potential of probiotic-derived biogenics in conjunction with zingerone against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm. Cell-free supernatant (CFS) of potential probiotics Pediococcus acidilactici BNS5B and Lactobacillus fermentum PUM was found to inhibit the growth of Ps. aeruginosa PAO1 maximally among the nineteen isolated lactic acid bacteria. L. fermentum PUM produced precipitated protein fraction (PP), organic acids (OAs), exopolysaccharides (EPSs), biosurfactants (BSs) and various volatile antimicrobial compounds, while Ped. acidilactici BNS5B was found to produce PP, OA, EPS, BS and fewer volatile antimicrobial compounds only. More specifically, CFS and selected biogenics (OA and PP from L. fermentum PUM; OA from Ped. acidilactici BNS5B) of both potential probiotics showed synergy with zingerone against Ps. aeruginosa growth as observed by FIC index (< 0.5). Interestingly, CFS of both potential probiotics in combination with zingerone led to the formation of a more distorted biofilm compared with OA of L. fermentum PUM and zingerone, OA of Ped. acidilactici BNS5B and zingerone, PP of L. fermentum PUM and zingerone as well as their individual counterparts. Similarly, both confocal laser scanning microscopy and XTT assay showed an increased number of dead and impaired cells along with the decreased viability of biofilm cells. Thus, it can be reckoned that a combination of probiotic-derived biogenics and zingerone can have therapeutic application against Ps. aeruginosa infections which needs to be validated clinically.