Exploring the antimicrobial potential of plant extracts: Advantage and challenge

Abstract

Plant extracts have long been used in traditional medicine for their therapeutic properties, including their ability to inhibit the growth or survival of microorganisms, also known as antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity refers to the ability of a substance to inhibit the growth or survival of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This activity can be due to compounds that plants produce for developing new antimicrobial agents. These extracts contain various secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids, which have been found to have antimicrobial activity. There are several ways in which plant extracts can exhibit antimicrobial activity. Some plant extracts contain compounds that directly damage or kill microorganisms, while others can interfere with their growth and reproduction.

In summary, exploring the antibacterial potential of plant extracts can be a beneficial way to find new antimicrobial medicines that can be used to treat microbial infections. Studies have shown that flavonoids can have antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. They can exert their effects through various mechanisms, including inhibiting the synthesis of microbial nucleic acids, interfering with microbial enzymes, and damaging microbial cell membranes. So, this paper aims to discuss the antimicrobial applications of plant extracts and their derived compounds by reporting their phytochemistry, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antiparasitic mechanisms of action, besides highlighting the challenges and perspectives of using plant extracts as antimicrobials. Additionally, the effectiveness of polyphenols can vary depending on the source, extraction method, and concentration, so more standardized methods of evaluating their activity are needed