Antimicrobial peptides in recent years have gained increased interest among scientists,
health professionals and the pharmaceutical companies owing to their therapeutic potential. These
are low molecular weight proteins with broad range antimicrobial and immuno modulatory
activities against infectious bacteria (Gram positive and Gram negative), viruses and fungi. Inability
of micro-organisms to develop resistance against most of the antimicrobial peptide has made them
as an efficient product which can greatly impact the new era of antimicrobials. In addition to this
these peptides also demonstrates increased efficacy, high specificity, decreased drug interaction,
low toxicity, biological diversity and direct attacking properties. Pharmaceutical industries are
therefore conducting appropriate clinical trials to develop these peptides as potential therapeutic
drugs. More than 60 peptide drugs have already reached the market and several hundreds of novel
therapeutic peptides are in preclinical and clinical development. Rational designing can be used
further to modify the chemical and physical properties of existing peptides. This mini review will
discuss the sources, mechanism and recent therapeutic applications of antimicrobial peptides in
treatment of infectious diseases.