Phytoextracts as Antibacterials: A Review

Curr Drug Discov Technol. 2020;17(4):523-533. doi: 10.2174/1570163816666191106103730.

Abstract

Botanicals have been cultured to flavour food, to treat health disorders and to put a stop to diseases caused by various microorganisms. The awareness of curative features of different medicinal plants has been spread among human communities. The application of herbal products as antimicrobial agents may be a better choice for the extensive and imprudent use of synthetic antibiotics. World Health Organization recommended traditional medicines as the safest remedies for the treatment of diseases of microbial origin. The plant extracts are generally nonhazardous, available in plenty at reasonable prices, biodegradable, eco-friendly and sometimes show broad-spectrum activities against different microorganisms. The current knowledge on plant extracts, phytochemicals and their antibacterial activity, target specific mechanism of action, solvents deployed during extraction, properties of an active ingredient isolated may help in biological control of bacteria. Antimicrobial properties of different plant parts, which act in a low dose, have been organised separately for easy understanding.

Keywords: Different plant parts; active ingredients; antibacterial activity; bioactive compounds; phytochemicals; phytoextracts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Phytotherapy / methods*
  • Phytotherapy / trends
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Plant Extracts