A Systematic Review of Plants With Antibacterial Activities: A Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Perspective

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: François Chassagne, Emory University; Tharanga Samarakoon, Emory University; Gina Porras, Emory University; James T Lyles, Emory University; Micah Dettweiler, Emory University; Lewis Marquez, Emory University; Akram M Salam, Emory University; Sarah Shabih, Emory University; Darya R Farrokhi, Emory University; Cassandra Quave, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-01-08
• Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2021 Chassagne, Samarakoon, Porras, Lyles, Dettweiler, Marquez, Salam, Shabih, Farrokhi and Quave.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.586548
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
• Volume: 11
• Start Page: 586548
• End Page: 586548
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (R21 AI136563 to CLQ), Emory University development funds to CLQ, and a graduate student fellowship from The Jones Center at Ichuaway to LM.
• Keywords: medicinal plants; MINIMAL INHIBITORY CONCENTRATION; BASILICUM ESSENTIAL OILS; Science & Technology; VITRO ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; FOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS; ROSMARINUS-OFFICINALIS L.; Pharmacology & Pharmacy; TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENTS; minimum inhibitory concentration; THYME ESSENTIAL OILS; ethnopharmacology; CAMALDULENSIS ESSENTIAL OILS; CORIANDRUM-SATIVUM L.; antibacterial; TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE; antimicrobial
• Research Categories: Biology, Molecular; Health Sciences, Pharmacology; Health Sciences, Human Development

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance represents a serious threat to human health across the globe. The cost of bringing a new antibiotic from discovery to market is high and return on investment is low. Furthermore, the development of new antibiotics has slowed dramatically since the 1950s’ golden age of discovery. Plants produce a variety of bioactive secondary metabolites that could be used to fuel the future discovery pipeline. While many studies have focused on specific aspects of plants and plant natural products with antibacterial properties, a comprehensive review of the antibacterial potential of plants has never before been attempted. Objectives: This systematic review aims to evaluate reports on plants with significant antibacterial activities. Methods: Following the PRISMA model, we searched three electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed and SciFinder by using specific keywords: “plant,” “antibacterial,” “inhibitory concentration.” Results: We identified a total of 6,083 articles published between 1946 and 2019 and then reviewed 66% of these (4,024) focusing on articles published between 2012 and 2019. A rigorous selection process was implemented using clear inclusion and exclusion criteria, yielding data on 958 plant species derived from 483 scientific articles. Antibacterial activity is found in 51 of 79 vascular plant orders throughout the phylogenetic tree. Most are reported within eudicots, with the bulk of species being asterids. Antibacterial activity is not prominent in monocotyledons. Phylogenetic distribution strongly supports the concept of chemical evolution across plant clades, especially in more derived eudicot families. The Lamiaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae were the most represented plant families, while Cinnamomum verum, Rosmarinus vulgaris and Thymus vulgaris were the most studied species. South Africa was the most represented site of plant collection. Crude extraction in methanol was the most represented type of extraction and leaves were the main plant tissue investigated. Finally, Staphylococcus aureus was the most targeted pathogenic bacteria in these studies. We closely examine 70 prominent medicinal plant species from the 15 families most studied in the literature. Conclusion: This review depicts the current state of knowledge regarding antibacterials from plants and provides powerful recommendations for future research directions.