Effect of matrine on reducing damage to bovine mammary epithelial cells induced by Staphylococcus aureus alpha-hemolysin.

Taking bacterial virulence factors as targets is a new therapy for treating host bacterial infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of matrine on α-hemolysin production of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and reducing the damage to bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) induced by S. aureus α-hemolysin. Subinhibitory concentrations of matrine decreased the production of α-hemolysin in none dose-dependent manner and matrine exhibited a protective effect on S. aureus-induced BMECs injury. The results indicated that the structure of matrine may potentially be used as a basic structure for development of drugs aimed at curing and preventing dairy bovine mastitis.