Exploring Phytochemicals for Combating Antibiotic Resistance in Microbial Pathogens.

Tushar Khare,Vinay Kumar,Yehuda G Assaraf,Zhijun Liu,Abhijit Dey,Uttpal Anand,Zhe-Sheng Chen

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.720726

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance or microbial drug resistance is emerging as a serious threat to human healthcare globally, and the multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains are imposing major hurdles to the progression of drug discovery programs. Newer antibiotic-resistance mechanisms in microbes contribute to the inefficacy of the existing drugs along with the prolonged illness and escalating expenditures. The injudicious usage of the conventional and commonly available antibiotics in human health, hygiene, veterinary and agricultural practices is proving to be a major driver for evolution, persistence and spread of antibiotic-resistance at a frightening rate. The drying pipeline of new and potent antibiotics is adding to the severity. Therefore, novel and effective new drugs and innovative therapies to treat MDR infections are urgently needed. Apart from the different natural and synthetic drugs being tested, plant secondary metabolites or phytochemicals are proving efficient in combating the drug-resistant strains. Various phytochemicals from classes including alkaloids, phenols, coumarins, terpenes have been successfully demonstrated their inhibitory potential against the drug-resistant pathogens. Several phytochemicals have proved effective against the molecular determinants responsible for attaining the drug resistance in pathogens like membrane proteins, biofilms, efflux pumps and bacterial cell communications. However, translational success rate needs to be improved, but the trends are encouraging. This review highlights current knowledge and developments associated challenges and future prospects for the successful application of phytochemicals in combating antibiotic resistance and the resistant microbial pathogens.

Highlights

The injudicious use of antibiotics for human healthcare has led to the fast emergence, persistence and spread of the antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance, a condition in which microbes develop resistance against the spectrum of conventional antibiotics, known as multidrug resistance and these microbes are typically known as antibiotic- or drug-resistant pathogens (Yu et al, 2020)
The use of piperine as an EP inhibitor (EPI) was investigated, and the findings revealed that this compound affected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and S. aureus NorA (388 amino acid protein)
Si et al (2008) reported strong antibacterial activities of oregano Essential oils (EOs) against MDR ESBL E. coli strain, and the EOs exhibited additive effects when combined with antibiotics like amoxicillin, polymycin, and lincomycin, and the activities were attributed to the plasmid affecting abilities of EOs

Summary

Introduction

The injudicious use of antibiotics for human healthcare has led to the fast emergence, persistence and spread of the antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance, a condition in which microbes develop resistance against the spectrum of conventional antibiotics, known as multidrug resistance and these microbes are typically known as antibiotic- or drug-resistant pathogens (Yu et al, 2020). The following sections discuss the major types of phytochemicals including alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids and essential oils, their antimicrobial potentials against drug-resistant microbes and the mode of actions.

Results

Conclusion