Phytochemicals and Their Antimicrobial Activity: An Update on Their Mode of Action

Abstract

Introduction: Plants have been considered as potential alternative for antimicrobial antibiotics owing to vast reserve of secondary metabolites. Last few decades have experienced an upsurge in demand and delivery of herbal products for health benefits as plant derived bioactive compounds have capability to interact with a wide variety of targets. The main focus of this review was to congregate vital information related to imperative bioactive components of medicinal plants having therapeutic potential with particular reference to antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria. Our study intended to comprehend the mode of action of these phytopharmaceuticals for their scientific validation and drug development. Methods: A narrative review of papers reporting antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants against pathogenic bacteria, identification of the prospective bioactive compounds with antimicrobial potential and understanding their mechanism of action has been envisaged. Results: This review includes anthology of recent published information on phytoconstituents of various medicinal plants belonging to different families around the globe, tested and validated against various pathogenic bacteria. This study unveils the treasure of antimicrobial potential of plant species, which is also an appraisal of information related to mechanism of action of these phytochemicals required for their antimicrobial activity. Conclusions: There is resurgence in use of herbal medicines and identification of pharmacologically active compounds with their scientific validation. It will play a pivotal role in perpetuating and promoting wider usages of drugs based on plant extracts. A missing link for establishment of phytocompounds as an alternative drug requires understanding their mode of action and exploitation.

The Ethanol Extract of Jukut Pendul (Kyllinga Nemoralis) Exhibits Inhibitory Activity Against the Growth of Staphylococcus Aureus

“…The variation in extract concentration tested was 5, 10, 20, and 40% with 96% ethanol as the control group and Ciprofloxacin as the work control. Result: The results showed that extract concentrations of 5, 10, 20, and 40% were able to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus bacteria with an average inhibitory zone of 9,36;10,85;11,64; and 12.15 mm, respectively. Conclusion: The inhibitory zone formed indicates that jukut pendul ethanol extract has moderate to strong inhibitory ability in inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.…”