Antimicrobial Capacity of Plant Polyphenols against Gram-positive Bacteria: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

onclusion: Plant polyphenols mean a promising source of antibacterial agents, either alone or in combination with existing antibiotics, for the development of new antibiotic therapies. DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666181008115650 Results: Several polyphenols: phenolic acids, flavonoids (especially flavonols), tannins, lignans, stilbenes and combinations of these in botanical mixtures, have exhibited significant antibacterial activity against resistant and non-resistant Gram-positive bacteria at low µg/mL range MIC values. Their mechanism of action is quite diverse, targeting cell wall, lipid membrane, membrane receptors and ion channels, bacteria metabolites and biofilm formation. Synergic effects were also demonstrated for some combinations of polyphenols and antibiotics. Received: May 18, 2018 Revised: July 17, 2018 Accepted: July 31, 2018 Methodology: The most relevant reports on plant polyphenols’ antibacterial activity and their putative molecular targets were studied. We also performed virtual screening of thousand different polyphenols against proteins involved in the peptidoglycan biosynthesis to find potential valuable bioactive compounds. The bibliographic information used in this review was obtained from MEDLINE via PubMed. A R T I C L E H I S T O R Y Objective: To review the antimicrobial activity of plant polyphenols against Gram-positive bacteria, especially against S. aureus and its resistant strains. Determine the main bacterial molecular targets of polyphenols and their potential mechanism of action. 1 Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular (IBMC) and Instituto de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación en Biotecnología Sanitaria de Elche (IDiBE), Universitas Miguel Hernández; 03202 Elche, Spain; 2Microbiology Section, University General Hospital of Alicante, Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL-FISABIO Foundation), Alicante 03010, Spain; 3CIBER, Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición, CIBERobn, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CB12/03/30038), Spain