Investigating the Effect of Enzymatically-Derived Blackcurrant Extract on Skin Staphylococci Using an In Vitro Human <i>Stratum Corneum</i> Model

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Numerous intrinsic and extrinsic stressors can disrupt the balance of the skin microbiome, leading to the development of various skin diseases. It has been proven that coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are important commensals for maintaining skin micr...

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Main Authors: Marija Ćorović, Anja Petrov Ivanković, Ana Milivojević, Klaus Pfeffer, Bernhard Homey, Patrick A. M. Jansen, Patrick L. J. M. Zeeuwen, Ellen H. van den Bogaard, Dejan Bezbradica
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/4/487
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author Marija Ćorović
Anja Petrov Ivanković
Ana Milivojević
Klaus Pfeffer
Bernhard Homey
Patrick A. M. Jansen
Patrick L. J. M. Zeeuwen
Ellen H. van den Bogaard
Dejan Bezbradica
author_facet Marija Ćorović
Anja Petrov Ivanković
Ana Milivojević
Klaus Pfeffer
Bernhard Homey
Patrick A. M. Jansen
Patrick L. J. M. Zeeuwen
Ellen H. van den Bogaard
Dejan Bezbradica
author_sort Marija Ćorović
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Numerous intrinsic and extrinsic stressors can disrupt the balance of the skin microbiome, leading to the development of various skin diseases. It has been proven that coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are important commensals for maintaining skin microbiome homeostasis and fighting cutaneous pathogens such as <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>). Here, we examined the influence of polyphenol-rich enzymatic blackcurrant extract (EBCE) on pathogenic coagulase-positive <i>S. aureus</i> strains and beneficial CoNS, like <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> (<i>S. epidermidis</i>), to explore its potential for rebalancing the skin microbiota. <b>Methods</b>: The polyphenol profile of EBCE was determined by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Microwell plate assays were employed to study the effect of EBCE on five <i>S. aureus</i> strains isolated from the skin of atopic dermatitis patients. An in vitro human <i>stratum corneum</i> model was used to test its effect on mixed bacterial cultures. <b>Results</b>: EBCE inhibited the growth of all tested <i>S. aureus</i> strains by 80–100% at the highest tested concentration after 7 h. No microbial growth was observed at the highest tested EBCE concentration using the <i>stratum corneum</i> model inoculated with one selected pathogen (<i>S. aureus</i> SA-DUS-017) and one commensal laboratory strain (<i>S. epidermidis</i> DSM 20044). The lowest tested concentration did not interfere with <i>S. aureus</i> growth but strongly stimulated the growth of <i>S. epidermidis</i> (~300-fold colony forming unit increase). In addition, low EBCE concentrations strongly stimulated CoNS growth in microbiome samples taken from the armpits of healthy volunteers that were spiked with <i>S. aureus</i> SA-DUS-017. <b>Conclusions</b>: These preclinical data support further testing of EBCE-enriched topical preparations as potential cutaneous prebiotics in human studies.
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spelling doaj-art-00a4dcb819a84f65bb92e15cf83421c92025-08-20T03:13:45ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232025-04-0117448710.3390/pharmaceutics17040487Investigating the Effect of Enzymatically-Derived Blackcurrant Extract on Skin Staphylococci Using an In Vitro Human <i>Stratum Corneum</i> ModelMarija Ćorović0Anja Petrov Ivanković1Ana Milivojević2Klaus Pfeffer3Bernhard Homey4Patrick A. M. Jansen5Patrick L. J. M. Zeeuwen6Ellen H. van den Bogaard7Dejan Bezbradica8Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInnovation Center, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Microbiology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, GermanyDepartment of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The NetherlandsDepartment of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The NetherlandsDepartment of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The NetherlandsFaculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Numerous intrinsic and extrinsic stressors can disrupt the balance of the skin microbiome, leading to the development of various skin diseases. It has been proven that coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are important commensals for maintaining skin microbiome homeostasis and fighting cutaneous pathogens such as <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>). Here, we examined the influence of polyphenol-rich enzymatic blackcurrant extract (EBCE) on pathogenic coagulase-positive <i>S. aureus</i> strains and beneficial CoNS, like <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> (<i>S. epidermidis</i>), to explore its potential for rebalancing the skin microbiota. <b>Methods</b>: The polyphenol profile of EBCE was determined by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Microwell plate assays were employed to study the effect of EBCE on five <i>S. aureus</i> strains isolated from the skin of atopic dermatitis patients. An in vitro human <i>stratum corneum</i> model was used to test its effect on mixed bacterial cultures. <b>Results</b>: EBCE inhibited the growth of all tested <i>S. aureus</i> strains by 80–100% at the highest tested concentration after 7 h. No microbial growth was observed at the highest tested EBCE concentration using the <i>stratum corneum</i> model inoculated with one selected pathogen (<i>S. aureus</i> SA-DUS-017) and one commensal laboratory strain (<i>S. epidermidis</i> DSM 20044). The lowest tested concentration did not interfere with <i>S. aureus</i> growth but strongly stimulated the growth of <i>S. epidermidis</i> (~300-fold colony forming unit increase). In addition, low EBCE concentrations strongly stimulated CoNS growth in microbiome samples taken from the armpits of healthy volunteers that were spiked with <i>S. aureus</i> SA-DUS-017. <b>Conclusions</b>: These preclinical data support further testing of EBCE-enriched topical preparations as potential cutaneous prebiotics in human studies.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/4/487skin prebioticblackcurrant extract<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>coagulase-negative staphylococci<i>stratum corneum</i> model
spellingShingle Marija Ćorović
Anja Petrov Ivanković
Ana Milivojević
Klaus Pfeffer
Bernhard Homey
Patrick A. M. Jansen
Patrick L. J. M. Zeeuwen
Ellen H. van den Bogaard
Dejan Bezbradica
Investigating the Effect of Enzymatically-Derived Blackcurrant Extract on Skin Staphylococci Using an In Vitro Human <i>Stratum Corneum</i> Model
Pharmaceutics
skin prebiotic
blackcurrant extract
<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
coagulase-negative staphylococci
<i>stratum corneum</i> model
title Investigating the Effect of Enzymatically-Derived Blackcurrant Extract on Skin Staphylococci Using an In Vitro Human <i>Stratum Corneum</i> Model
title_full Investigating the Effect of Enzymatically-Derived Blackcurrant Extract on Skin Staphylococci Using an In Vitro Human <i>Stratum Corneum</i> Model
title_fullStr Investigating the Effect of Enzymatically-Derived Blackcurrant Extract on Skin Staphylococci Using an In Vitro Human <i>Stratum Corneum</i> Model
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the Effect of Enzymatically-Derived Blackcurrant Extract on Skin Staphylococci Using an In Vitro Human <i>Stratum Corneum</i> Model
title_short Investigating the Effect of Enzymatically-Derived Blackcurrant Extract on Skin Staphylococci Using an In Vitro Human <i>Stratum Corneum</i> Model
title_sort investigating the effect of enzymatically derived blackcurrant extract on skin staphylococci using an in vitro human i stratum corneum i model
topic skin prebiotic
blackcurrant extract
<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
coagulase-negative staphylococci
<i>stratum corneum</i> model
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/4/487
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