Citrus sinensis waste wood pyroligneous extract as an effective agent against biofilms formed by mastitis-causing Staphylococcus aureus.

Bovine mastitis, a condition primarily caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus , poses substantial challenges to milk production, underscoring the pressing need to explore novel therapeutic approaches for its treatment, particularly through the utilization of natural products. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects of pyroligneous extract (PE) derived from Citrus sinensis waste wood against mastitis-causing S. aureus. The wood samples were subjected to pyrolysis to obtain PE, which was further processed to obtain purified pyroligneous extract (PPE). Subsequently, the physical, chemical, antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of PPE were determined. The predominant compounds identified in the samples were acetic acid, furfural and 2-methoxyphenol. Monophenols and the hydroxyl (-OH) functional groups were present in the PPE, which had bactericidal effects at a concentration of 2.5 % against both sensitive and resistant S. aureus strains, as well as the ability to disarticulate mature biofilm by 42 % within 1 hour, action which is crucial to prevent the establishment and persistence of chronic infections. These findings indicate the potential of this PPE as a sustainable and effective therapeutic agent to treat bovine mastitis, besides adding value to waste material within the broader context of the bioeconomy. [Display omitted] • PPE from Citrus sinensis wood contains a high concentration of bioactive compounds. • Low concentrations of PPE have strong bactericidal activity. • PPE effectively disrupts both initial cell adhesion and mature S. aureus biofilms, demonstrating antibiofilm activity. • The exposure time to PPE does not interfere with the mature biofilm reduction rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]