A Systematic Review of Plants With Antibacterial Activities: A Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Perspective

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance represents a serious threat to human health across the globe. The cost of bringing a new antibiotic from discovery to market is high and return on investment is low. Furthermore, the development of new antibiotics has slowed dramatically since the 1950s’ golden age of discovery. Plants produce a variety of bioactive secondary metabolites that could be used to fuel the future discovery pipeline. While many studies have focused on specific aspects of plants and plant natural products with antibacterial properties, a comprehensive review of the antibacterial potential of plants has never before been attempted.Objectives: This systematic review aims to evaluate reports on plants with significant antibacterial activities.Methods: Following the PRISMA model, we searched three electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed and SciFinder by using specific keywords: “plant,” “antibacterial,” “inhibitory concentration.”Results: We identified a total of 6,083 articles published between 1946 and 2019 and then reviewed 66% of these (4,024) focusing on articles published between 2012 and 2019. A rigorous selection process was implemented using clear inclusion and exclusion criteria, yielding data on 958 plant species derived from 483 scientific articles. Antibacterial activity is found in 51 of 79 vascular plant orders throughout the phylogenetic tree. Most are reported within eudicots, with the bulk of species being asterids. Antibacterial activity is not prominent in monocotyledons. Phylogenetic distribution strongly supports the concept of chemical evolution across plant clades, especially in more derived eudicot families. The Lamiaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae were the most represented plant families, while Cinnamomum verum, Rosmarinus vulgaris and Thymus vulgaris were the most studied species. South Africa was the most represented site of plant collection. Crude extraction in methanol was the most represented type of extraction and leaves were the main plant tissue investigated. Finally, Staphylococcus aureus was the most targeted pathogenic bacteria in these studies. We closely examine 70 prominent medicinal plant species from the 15 families most studied in the literature.Conclusion: This review depicts the current state of knowledge regarding antibacterials from plants and provides powerful recommendations for future research directions.

The Nephroprotective Effect of Zizyphus lotus L. (Desf.) Fruits in a Gentamicin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Model in Rats: A Biochemical and Histopathological Investigation

“…Indeed, our finding shows that the aqueous extract of ZLF is rich in polyphenolic compounds such as ferulic acid, hydroxytyrosol, gallic acid, catechin, vanillic acid, quercetin p -coumaric acid, naringenin, rutin, and 3-hydroxycinnamic acid, according to the HPLC-DAD study. These bioactive compounds have been synthesized and used by plants to protect against pathogens agents [ 43 ], and there are well known for their antioxidant power [ 44 ]. Based on these results, it seems that our extract relying on these bioactive molecules activities protects the kidneys against GM nephrotoxicity by trapping free radicals produced by GM metabolism.…”

Study of Antibacterial and Synergistic Activities of Cinnamomum verum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Zataria multiflora Boiss. in Persian Medicine Against Some Gram-Negative and Gram-positive Pathogenic Bacteria

“…Here, the antibacterial activities of three routinely used herbal elements in Persian medicine, i.e., cinnamon, eucalyptus, and thyme, were investigated. The results clearly indicated significant antibacterial properties of the three EOs under study [11,13,15]. This characteristic can be attributed to the major chemical components of the EOs, e.g., carvacrol, 1,8-cineole, thymol, p-cymene, cinnamaldehyde, and cinnamic acid [21,22].…”

“…Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., Myrtaceae) tree has hard wood which its brown color appears after its bark is peeled off [12]. Eucalyptus leaves extract is commonly applied as an antibiotic in herbal medicine [13]. This plant has been described as an effective medicine for the treatment of many diseases, including infections of various parts of the body, especially the respiratory system and urinary tract, and as an antiseptic agent in some Persian medicine literature [14].…”

Effect of mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) on nitrogen and Escherichia coli reductions in soils: a field experiment

“…Although the use of plants with antimicrobial properties to reduce the migration of N and pathogens from farming areas into water bodies is still an incipient research line (Gutierrez-Gines et al 2021), there is a wide opportunity worldwide given the large range of plant species with antibacterial activity being investigated (Chassagne et al 2021). According to those authors, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae are the families with the greatest number of species with known antimicrobial properties.…”