Biofilm disruption by citronellol and geraniol against clinical uropathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa: an integrated in vitro and in silico investigation.

Authors

Asma Benaissa, Alfred Ngenge Tamfu, Waffa Bouali, Ammara Bousselham, Houria Medjdoub, Brahim Babali, Arslan Eroglu Busra, Selcuk Kucukaydin, El-Hassane Anouar, Ozgur Ceylan

Published in

Molecular biology reports. Volume 53. Issue 1. Jul 27, 2026. Epub Jul 27, 2026.

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, within urinary tract and nosocomial infections, involves biofilm formation and quorum sensing (QS) constituting a major clinical challenge.
The chemical composition of Pelargonium graveolens essential oil (EO) was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antibacterial activity of the EO and its major constituents, citronellol and geraniol, was evaluated against clinical and reference P. aeruginosa strains using disk diffusion and broth microdilution assays. Antibiofilm activity was assessed at concentrations ranging from 2×MIC to sub-MIC levels. Interference with quorum-sensing-associated phenotypes was investigated using Chromobacterium violaceum CV12472 and CV026 biosensor strains. Swarming and swimming motility assays were performed. Molecular docking and ADMET analyses were conducted to explore potential target interactions and pharmacokinetic properties.
Citronellol (34.29%) and geraniol (18.62%) were the predominant constituents of the EO. Antibacterial activity yielded inhibition zones of 10-14 mm and MIC values ranging from 1% to 0.031% (v/v), with geraniol showing the lowest MIC (0.031%). The EO, citronellol, and geraniol inhibited biofilm formation, reaching 87.28% inhibition at 2×MIC while retaining activity at sub-MIC concentrations. All treatments reduced violacein production in C. violaceum biosensors and inhibited bacterial motility, with maximum reductions of 82.6% (swarming) and 74.3% (swimming). Geraniol generally exhibited the strongest activity. Docking analysis revealed binding affinities of - 6.08 and - 5.83 kcal/mol for citronellol and geraniol, respectively.
P. graveolens EO, citronellol, and geraniol exhibited promising anti-virulence properties against multidrug-resistant uropathogenic P. aeruginosa, supporting their potential as complementary agents for controlling biofilm- and motility-associated infections.

PMID:
42507230
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 27 Jul 2026.

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