Discover and development of qurum sensing inhibitors for modulation of plant-microbe interactions

Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial communication mechanism based on the production and detection of signal molecules such as N -acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), which regulate collective behaviors including biofilm formation, virulence, and symbiosis [ 1 ] [ 2 ]. The disruption of this system, referred to as quorum quenching (QQ), constitutes a promising strategy for controlling pathogenic microorganisms and promoting beneficial plant-microbe interactions [ 2 ] [ 3 ]. In this work, we present an integrative strategy for the identification and development of natural QS inhibitors (QSIs) using a combination of chromatographic techniques, bioautography, molecular docking, and in vitro microbiological assays [ 1 ] [ 4 ]. Previous findings from our group identified the piperamides piperine and trichostachine, isolated from Piper nigrum , as active QSIs that reduce violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 without affecting bacterial growth. Docking analyses confirmed their affinity for the CviR receptor [ 4 ]. Building upon this approach, we report novel and unpublished data on Asterohyptis sp. , a native Mexican Lamiaceae plant. Phytochemical analysis of its ethanolic extract revealed the presence of caffeic acid esters with high in silico binding scores against CviR and LasR receptors. Preliminary in vitro assays demonstrated that these compounds inhibit violacein synthesis and biofilm formation in C. violaceum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , respectively. These findings highlight the potential of acylated phenolic esters as natural QSIs capable of modulating QS-dependent bacterial behavior. This study emphasizes the value of endemic plant species in the discovery of novel bioactive compounds and contributes to the development of sustainable strategies for managing plant-associated microbial communities in agriculture. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany