Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of Arixib : A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to global health, emphasizing the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as arixib, initially developed for their anti-inflammatory properties, are increasingly being explored for their potential antibacterial effects. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of arixib against six bacterial strains, including four reference strains and two multidrug-resistant clinical strains, as well as its effects on biofilm formation and dispersal.

The experimental protocol involved applying controlled dilutions of arixib to bacterial cultures grown in 96-well microtiter plates, followed by biofilm staining with crystal violet and quantification using spectrophotometry. The results revealed a variable antibacterial activity of arixib, depending on the tested strains, with significant inhibition observed at specific concentrations. Notably, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus exhibited complete bacterial inhibition at 0.5 mg/ml, whereas Klebsiella pneumoniae displayed greater resistance, requiring higher concentrations.

Regarding biofilm formation, arixib demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibitory effects, with complete absence of biofilm at higher concentrations for most strains tested. However, lower concentrations resulted in partial resistance, particularly in resistant clinical strains such as E. NDM-1. In addition, arixib exhibited a notable dispersal effect, significantly reducing biofilm mass in a concentration-dependent manner.