Antibacterial Natural

products
Currently, of the one-quarter to one-half of all
pharmaceuticals dispensed in the United States having
higher-plant origins, very few are intended for use as
antimicrobials, since we have relied on bacterial and
fungal sources for these activities.
Plants are rich in a wide variety of secondary
metabolites, such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids
and flavonoids, which have been found in vitro to have
antimicrobial properties. Several are already being
tested in humans.

Submitted by
MS-141111, 141112, 141113, 141114, 141115, 141117,
141118, 141119 & 141120

Plants Proved Effective as Antimicrobial Agent

Withania
somniferum

Aegle marmelos

Piper betel

Piper nigrum

Eucalyptus
globulus

Allium sativum

Plants Proved Effective as

Antimicrobial Agent
continued.
Camellia
Cannabis sativa
sinensis

Curcuma longa

Papaver
somniferum

Azadirachta
indica

Allium capa

Major Classes of Antimicrobial

Compounds from Plants
Class
Phenolics

Subclass
Simple phenols
Phenolic acids
Quinones
Flavonoids
Flavones

Example(s)
Catechol
Cinnamic acid
Rhein, Hypericin
Catechin, Chrysin

Flavonols
Tannins
Coumarins

Totarol
Ellagitannin
Warfarin

Terpenoids, essential oils

Capsaicin, Eugenol

Alkaloids

Berberine, Piperine,
Cocaine, Quinine,
Reserpine
Withafarin A, Helanins

Lactone
Lectins and polypeptides

Mannose-specific
agglutinin, Fabatin

Prominent Antimicrobial
Compounds from Plant
sources

(Camellia sinensis)

Piper nigrum

(Syzygium
aromaticum)

Allium sativum

Withania somniferum

Salix alba

Plant derived
antibacterial drugs under
clinical trials

Common Assay Methods

Used
Agar diffusion technique - Known as the
Kirby-Bauer
method,
this
assay
was
standardized by Bauer et al. in 1966. The
method measures microbial growth inhibition
at the surface of an inoculate medium around
a
paper
disk
impregnated
with
the
antimicrobial substance at a standard
concentration. The result may show, or not,
the presence of an inhibition zone around the
paper disk, the diameter of this zone being a
good indicator of the antibiotic activity.

Common Assay Methods

Used (continued)
Bioautography - This assay is a
variation
of
the
agar
diffusion
methodology. The sample to be analyzed
is transferred from the chromatographic
adsorbent to the inoculated agar. The
spots containing the substances are
visualized using microbial indicators
(tetrazolium salts) as a growth detector of
dehydrogenase activity (Kline & Golab
1965, Rahalison et al. 1994, Nostro 2000).

Common Assay Methods

Used (continued)
Dilution tests - These can be
applied in solid (agar dilution) or
liquid (micro and macrodilution broth
method) media. The results obtained
allow a quantitative estimate of
antimicrobial
activity.
Several
dilutions
of
the
antimicrobial
substance are incorporated to the
liquid or solid media to determine the
minimal
inhibitory
concentration

Synergism Between Natural

Products and Antibiotics
Phytochemical
product

Plant source

Antibiotic
potentiated

Carnosic acid ;
Carnosol

Rosmarinus
officinalis

Tetracycline,
Erythromycin

Piperine
Allicin
Catechin gallate

Piper nigrum
Ciprofloxacin
Allium sativum
Cefazolin
Camellia sinensis b-lactams ,
Norfloxacin,
Tetracycline

Berberine

Berberis spp.

Erythromycin,
Methicillin,
Ampicillin,

Plant Derived Anticancer Lead

Compounds Currently on Clinical
Trials or approved
About 30 plant derived compounds have been
isolated so far and are currently under clinical
trials. These anti-cancer compounds have been
found to be clinically active against various types
of cancer cells. Further research in this area may
lead to better treatment of cancer.
Derivatives of Curcumin, Camptothecin, Taxol,
Flavopiridol,
Barbamine,
Phenoxodiol
and
Protopanaxadiol, Vincristine & Vinblastine are
under various stages of clinical trial.

Structure of Some Anticancer Lead

Compounds