A Comprehensive Review on the Role of Medicinal Plants as Antimicrobial Agents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59436/jsiane.386d.2583-2093Keywords:
Medicinal plants, antimicrobial activity, phytochemicals, antibiotic resistance, plant extracts, ethnopharmacology, natural therapeuticsAbstract
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a worldwide health crisis, highlighting the urgent need for new alternative therapeutic options. Through the course of human history, many have relied on medicinal plants as the traditional source of health care, and they continue to be used as effective primary healthcare resources, providing bioactive compounds possessing antimicrobial activity. The intention of this comprehensive review is to detail the proposed role of medicinal plants in the development of antimicrobial agents by discussing phytochemical diversity, mechanisms of action, extraction methods, and the potential for synergy with conventional antibiotics. In addition, this review will include current technological advancements in the application of nanotechnology and molecular docking methods. Medicinal plant secondary metabolites including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, phenolics, and saponins have documented broad-spectrum activities against pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Evidence indicates that antimicrobial activity of plant-derived compounds occurs via several mechanisms including the disruption of the cell membrane, inhibition of protein synthesis, interference with nucleic acid replication, and/or suppression of quorum sensing. In addition, synergistic interactions are expected between plant-based products and conventional antibiotics in efforts to create alternatives to combat multidrug-resistant organisms. While significant progress has been made in the development of plant-based antimicrobial agents, standardization, safety/toxicity assessment, clinical validation, and regulatory approval remain substantial obstacles. This review emphasizes the scientific importance of medicinal plants as a potential source of new antimicrobial drugs, and provides a perspective on the integration of traditional medicinal knowledge with current biomedical research toward the successful development of new strategies to address antibiotic resistance.
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