Rapid exploration of anti-MRSA components from plants of Salvia

doi:10.1007/s13659-026-00624-0

Natural Products and Bioprospecting ›› 2026, Vol. 16 ›› Issue (5): 69-69.DOI: 10.1007/s13659-026-00624-0

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Rapid exploration of anti-MRSA components from plants of Salvia

Huan Huang¹, Zhao-Jie Wang¹, Li-Yu Bai¹, Yue-Ming Jiang¹, Yan-Yan Zhu¹, Yun-Li Zhao¹, Xiao-Dong Luo^1,2

1. Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China;
2. State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China

Received:2026-01-17 Accepted:2026-03-03 Online:2026-10-08
Supported by:
National Natural Science Foundation of China, U2202212, Xiao-Dong Luo, High-level Talent Promotion and Training Project of Kunming, 2022SCP003, Xiao-Dong Luo, Yunnan Characteristic Plant Screening and R&D Service CXO Platform, 2022YKZY001, Xiao-Dong Luo.

Rapid exploration of anti-MRSA components from plants of Salvia

Huan Huang¹, Zhao-Jie Wang¹, Li-Yu Bai¹, Yue-Ming Jiang¹, Yan-Yan Zhu¹, Yun-Li Zhao¹, Xiao-Dong Luo^1,2

1. Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Natural Resource, Ministry of Education and Yunnan Province, School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, People's Republic of China;
2. State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, People's Republic of China

通讯作者: Yun-Li Zhao,E-mail:zhaoyunli@ynu.edu.cn;Xiao-Dong Luo,E-mail:xdluo@ynu.edu.cn
基金资助:
National Natural Science Foundation of China, U2202212, Xiao-Dong Luo, High-level Talent Promotion and Training Project of Kunming, 2022SCP003, Xiao-Dong Luo, Yunnan Characteristic Plant Screening and R&D Service CXO Platform, 2022YKZY001, Xiao-Dong Luo.

Abstract

Abstract: Plants of Salvia are frequently used for treatment infections of boils and sores in Traditional Chinese medicine, which might inhibit microbial. In this work, the chemical constituents of the effective fractions were analyzed using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and multivariate analysis and network pharmacology were used to predict potential antibacterial substances and their mechanism. Moreover, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) effect and pathway of bioactive compounds were validated by experiments in vitro and in vivo. Two unreported anti-MRSA compounds, miltirone and przewaquinone A were proposed and then validated by serial experiments. They acted as bactericides and biofilm scavengers, respectively, and both targeted on the cell membrane, causing leakage of contents and affecting intracellular metabolism, leading to bacterial death without significant toxicity. Furthermore, miltirone ameliorated skin wound infection caused by MRSA in mice, roughly equal to vancomycin. The research supported the traditional use of Salvia plants, and presented two potent bactericidal agents for further investigation.

Key words: Salvia, Anti-MRSA, Miltirone, Przewaquinone A, Mechanism, In vitro and in vivo

摘要： Plants of Salvia are frequently used for treatment infections of boils and sores in Traditional Chinese medicine, which might inhibit microbial. In this work, the chemical constituents of the effective fractions were analyzed using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, and multivariate analysis and network pharmacology were used to predict potential antibacterial substances and their mechanism. Moreover, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) effect and pathway of bioactive compounds were validated by experiments in vitro and in vivo. Two unreported anti-MRSA compounds, miltirone and przewaquinone A were proposed and then validated by serial experiments. They acted as bactericides and biofilm scavengers, respectively, and both targeted on the cell membrane, causing leakage of contents and affecting intracellular metabolism, leading to bacterial death without significant toxicity. Furthermore, miltirone ameliorated skin wound infection caused by MRSA in mice, roughly equal to vancomycin. The research supported the traditional use of Salvia plants, and presented two potent bactericidal agents for further investigation.

关键词: Salvia, Anti-MRSA, Miltirone, Przewaquinone A, Mechanism, In vitro and in vivo

Huan Huang, Zhao-Jie Wang, Li-Yu Bai, Yue-Ming Jiang, Yan-Yan Zhu, Yun-Li Zhao, Xiao-Dong Luo. Rapid exploration of anti-MRSA components from plants of Salvia[J]. Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 2026, 16(5): 69-69.

Huan Huang, Zhao-Jie Wang, Li-Yu Bai, Yue-Ming Jiang, Yan-Yan Zhu, Yun-Li Zhao, Xiao-Dong Luo. Rapid exploration of anti-MRSA components from plants of Salvia[J]. 应用天然产物, 2026, 16(5): 69-69.

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Rapid exploration of anti-MRSA components from plants of Salvia

Rapid exploration of anti-MRSA components from plants of Salvia

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