Oak Gall Extract: Molecular Docking of Wound Healing and Control of the Skin Pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans are common pathogens causing some health problems, however, the increase of their resistance to variety of medications increases the demand of searching for new antimicrobial agents. In this regard, the crude extract of Quercus infectoria (QIE) was verified as active antimicrobial with MBC of 1 mg/mL and MFC 10 mg/mL against S. aureus and C. albicans, respectively. SEM imaging of QIE-Treated-S. aureus and C. albicans cells showed fully lysed shrunk pathogen cells after 12 h. QIE showed good efficacy as potent anti-S. aureus and anti-C. albicans agents using Extract-Treated Cotton-Textiles. QIE ointment formulation showed faster rate of wound and burn healing in mice, with skin tissue development, at the 5 th day, as compared to untreated control. A high significant wound closure (from 10 to 0 mm) and burn healing (from 25 to 2.3 mm) occurred after 6 days of treatment. Molecular docking predicted that ten major components in QIE namely Isocryptomerin,5,6,7,8-pentahydrox-h-thalene, Syringic acid, Gallotannic acid, Tannic acid, Pentagalloylglucose 1,-sitosterol, Methyl oleanate, and Amentoflavone hexamethyl ether) are highly integrated in healing by promoting cell proliferation, keratinocyte migration, inhibiting collagenase, converting prothrombin to thrombin, increasing collagens function, enhancing immunity and DNA repair enzymes, as well as reducing inflammation. The combination of more than one bioactive compound in the extract and their synergetic action recommend the usage of QIE as effective topical applications for healing and skin disinfection.