Foodborne pathogenic bacteria, particularly Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus , present growing health and economic risks due to their spore-forming ability and antibiotic resistance. Perilla essential oil (PEO) has demonstrated broad-spectrum antibacterial potential, but its mechanism against Bacillus species remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we employed network pharmacology to predict the potential human host targets (PTGS2, CYP3A4, CYP2C19) and related pathways (arachidonic acid metabolism, cytochrome P450 drug metabolism) through which PEO may modulate host inflammatory and metabolic responses during bacterial infection. This approach provided a molecular hypothesis for the indirect, host‑mediated antibacterial effects of PEO. To investigate direct antibacterial activity, we performed in vitro assays including MIC determination, growth curve analysis, scanning electron microscopy, membrane potential measurement, and DNA damage detection on B. subtilis and B. cereus. The results demonstrated that PEO directly disrupts bacterial cell membrane integrity, reduces membrane potential, inhibits bacterial proliferation, and induces DNA damage. Collectively, these three effects account for the direct antibacterial action of PEO. By integrating network pharmacology‑based host‑target prediction with experimental validation of direct bacterial killing, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of the antibacterial mechanism of PEO. The findings provide molecular evidence for the application of PEO as a natural preservative in controlling Bacillus spore contamination and combating drug‑resistant bacteria.
Zhang et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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