The study shows that plant‑derived cyclotide peptides can kill bacteria, especially Gram‑negative bugs, at very low (sub‑micromolar) concentrations—sometimes even better than the human antimicrobial peptide LL‑37. Their effectiveness depends on how they interact with a specific membrane lipid (phosphatidylethanolamine). This work mainly reveals how these peptides work in the lab, not how to use them in people.

Cyclotides are a family of plant peptides characterized by a cystine knot embedded in a macrocyclic backbone. They bind to and disrupt phospholipid membranes, which explain their lytic activity on cells. In this study, we expose the full antibacterial potency of cyclotides by avoiding its inhibition by rich growth media assay conditions. For that purpose a two-step microdilution assay protocol was developed, using non-growing conditions during initial peptide incubation. A diverse set of cyclotides was tested for antibacterial and antifungal activity, and the results show that most cyclotides are active under these conditions, especially against Gram-negative bacteria. Activity was observed at sub-micromolar concentrations for three of the cyclotides tested, surpassing that of the control peptides LL-37 and melittin. Noteworthy, two anionic cyclotides were active on Pseudomonas aeruginosa at low micromolar concentrations. Broad-spectrum activity was pronounced among cycloviolacin cyclotides, which included activity on Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The factors influencing their bactericidal spectrum were revealed by correlating antimicrobial activity with membrane permeabilization on various liposome systems and with the physiochemical properties of the cyclotides. Whereas general electrostatic and hydrophobic parameters are more important for broad-spectrum cyclotides; a phospholipid-specific mechanism of membrane permeabilization, through interaction with phosphatidylethanolamine-lipids, is essential for cyclotides active primarily on Gram-negative bacteria.