Inhibition of quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by two herbal essential oils from Apiaceae family.

Ferula (Ferula asafoetida L.) and Dorema (Dorema aucheri Bioss.) both from Apiaceae family were tested for their anti-quorum sensing (QS) activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Both essential oils exhibited anti-QS activity at 25 μg/ml of concenteration. At this concenteration Ferula fully abolished and Dorema reduced the violacein production by C. violaceum. Pyocyanin, pyoverdine, elastase and biofilm production were decreased in Ferula oil treatments. Dorema oil reduced pyoverdine and elastase production, while pyocyanin and biofilm production were not affacted. Expresion analysis of QS-dependent genes confirmed our phenotypic data. Our data introduced native Dorema and Ferula plants as novel QS and virulence inhibitors.