Abstract The quorum quenching (QQ) potential of three pentacyclic triterpenoids, glycyrrhetinic acid (GRA), ursolic acid (UA) and betulinic acid (BA), representing distinct groups of compounds, was evaluated. Violacein production by Chromobacterium violaceum and pyocyanin production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were severely affected by GRA, UA and BA, suggesting a perturbation of N-acyl homoserine lactone (ASL) based signaling. Molecular docking analysis revealed a possible interaction between ASL-synthase and ASL-dependent transcriptional activator homologs from P. aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii with common binding pockets for GRA, UA and BA. The triterpenoids inhibited biofilm formation by A. baumannii and affected the overall structure of biofilms. When administered in combination, two of the three molecules fostered antibiotic action against A. baumannii biofilms, widening the scope for developing novel combinations against the pathogen.

中文翻译：

---

五环三萜类化合物的群体猝灭活性导致鲍曼不动杆菌对生物膜形成的抑制

摘要 评估了代表不同化合物组的三种五环三萜类化合物甘草次酸 (GRA)、熊果酸 (UA) 和桦木酸 (BA) 的群体猝灭 (QQ) 潜力。紫罗兰色杆菌产生的紫罗兰素和铜绿假单胞菌产生的绿脓杆菌受到 GRA、UA 和 BA 的严重影响，表明基于 N-酰基高丝氨酸内酯 (ASL) 的信号传导受到干扰。分子对接分析揭示了来自铜绿假单胞菌和鲍曼不动杆菌的 ASL 合酶和 ASL 依赖性转录激活因子同源物之间可能存在相互作用，它们具有 GRA、UA 和 BA 的共同结合口袋。三萜类化合物抑制鲍曼不动杆菌的生物膜形成并影响生物膜的整体结构。联合用药时，