Anthraquinone Rhein Exhibits Antibacterial Activity against Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) represents an important pathogen of clinical relevance, causing a wide variety symptoms. The broad distribution multidrug-resistant strains necessarily demands new antibacterial agents for the treatment S. infections. aim this study was to assess activity plant-derived compounds, pure 4,5″-dihydroxy-anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (Rhein), against standard and isolated strains. hemolysis 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays were used determine cytotoxicity on human erythrocytes bronchial epithelial cells after with Rhein. effect assessed via disk diffusion test, broth microdilution methods, time-killing live–dead evaluation (50–0.39 µg/mL). Rhein hemolytic α-toxin catalase estimated. Moreover, crystal violet (CV) assay evaluated its impact biofilm biomass. compound exhibited 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) (EC50) 43.6 >50 µg/mL, respectively. minimum inhibitory (MIC) 12.5 µg/mL all tested strains, exerting bacteriostatic action. MIC sub-MIC concentrations significantly reduced activities, impairing major virulence factors also biomass in dose-dependent manner, reaching rates about eradication at dose 50 µg/mL. These findings suggest that could represent promising therapeutic option