Inhibitory effects of reserpine against efflux pump activity of antibiotic resistance bacteria

Antibiotic resistant bacteria (ABR) is an alarming issue and it has to be eliminated before enter into the environment.  The role of efflux pump inhibitor, reserpine – a plant alkaloid in reducing the antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. and Micrococcus sp. from poultry litter were evaluated.  Reserpine increased the activity of antibiotics against bacteria and directly blocks the antibiotic efflux pump.  Resistances of bacteria to antibiotics were reduced when they were grown in the presence of reserpine.  Furthermore, this compound effectively reduced the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of several antibiotics such as ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, kanamycin, rifampicin and tobramycin, suggesting that reserpine are representatives of bacterial efflux inhibitors with the potential application in combination therapy for veterinary medicines.   This defensive action will helps us to reduce the existence of ABR in poultry industry as well as in the environment.