Life Defense in the New Century: Natural Products in the Development of New Antimicrobial Drugs

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Novel Antimicrobial Agents".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 6718

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
Interests: food chemistry; nutraceuticals; phytochemistry; phytocomplexes; antiaging; inflammation; antimicrobial; antiviral
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Drug resistance is a global issue concerning bacteria, yeasts, viruses, and protozoa. It is a natural phenomenon that has been enhanced by the incorrect and excessive use of antimicrobial drugs.

Today, antibiotics resistance has become an issue of large and dangerous proportions for an ever-increasing number of microbial species, with many negative impacts, not only in aspects concerning health but also those related to health expenditure. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new substances able to inhibit many microbial species, including antibiotic-resistant ones. Natural products have played a central role in many therapeutical areas, especially in infectious diseases. These compounds are characterized by a high structural heterogeneity and complexity, in addition to their ability to act on several microbial and host targets. Accordingly, this Special Issue aims at favoring scientific research in the field of natural compounds endowed with antimicrobial effects.

This may lead to the expansion of the number of compounds with antimicrobial activity against several species, including MDR microorganisms.

Studies on the effects of chemically characterized phytocomplexes and isolated compounds with antimicrobial activities will be particularly appreciated.

Dr. Matteo Micucci
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • natural compounds
  • phytocomplexes
  • polyphenols
  • flavonoids
  • antibacterial
  • multitarget
  • nutraceuticals

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 4618 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Green Engineered Silver Nanoparticles through Urtica dioica: An Inhibition of Microbes and Alleviation of Cellular and Organismal Toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster
by Mahendra P. Singh, Shabnam Shabir, Aman Singh Deopa, Sanchina Raj Raina, Farkad Bantun, Naif A. Jalal, Noha E. Abdel-razik, Yahya F. Jamous, Maryam S. Alhumaidi, Khadijah A. Altammar, Ahmed Hjazi, Sandeep Kumar Singh and Emanuel Vamanu
Antibiotics 2022, 11(12), 1690; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11121690 - 23 Nov 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3148
Abstract
Plant fractions have a diversity of biomolecules that can be used to make complicated reactions for the bioactive fabrication of metal nanoparticles (NPs), in addition to being beneficial as antioxidant medications or dietary supplements. The current study shows that Urtica dioica (UD) and [...] Read more.
Plant fractions have a diversity of biomolecules that can be used to make complicated reactions for the bioactive fabrication of metal nanoparticles (NPs), in addition to being beneficial as antioxidant medications or dietary supplements. The current study shows that Urtica dioica (UD) and biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of UD have antibacterial and antioxidant properties against bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida) and Drosophila melanogaster (Oregon R+). According to their ability to scavenge free radicals, DPPH, ABTS, TFC, and TPC initially estimated the antioxidant potential of UD and UD AgNPs. The fabricated AgNPs were analyzed (UV–Vis, FTIR, EDS, and SEM) to determine the functional groups (alcohol, carboxylic acids, phenol, proteins, and aldehydes) and to observe the shape (agglomerated crystalline and rod-shaped structure). The disc diffusion method was used to test the antimicrobial properties of synthesized Ag-NPs against E. coli and P. putida. For 24 to 120 h, newly enclosed flies and third instar larvae of Drosophila were treated with UD and UD AgNPs. After exposure, tests for biochemical effects (acetylcholinesterase inhibition and protein estimation assays), cytotoxicity (dye exclusion), and behavioral effects (jumping and climbing assays) were conducted. The results showed that nanoparticles were found to have potent antimicrobial activity against all microbial strains tested at various concentrations. In this regard, ethno-medicinal characteristics exhibit a similar impact in D. melanogaster, showing (p < 0.05) significantly decreased cellular toxicity (trypan blue dye), enhanced biochemical markers (AChE efficacy and proteotoxicity), and improved behavioral patterns in the organism treated with UD AgNPs, especially in comparison to UD extract. The results of this study may help in the utilization of specific plants as reliable sources of natural antioxidants that may have been beneficial in the synthesis of metallic NPs, which aids in the production of nanomedicine and other therapeutic applications. Full article
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Review

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24 pages, 2416 KiB  
Review
Anti-COVID-19 Credentials of Chitosan Composites and Derivatives: Future Scope?
by Judy Gopal, Manikandan Muthu, Suraj Shiv Charan Pushparaj and Iyyakkannu Sivanesan
Antibiotics 2023, 12(4), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12040665 - 28 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2454
Abstract
Chitosan derivatives and composites are the next generation polymers for biomedical applications. With their humble origins from the second most abundant naturally available polymer chitin, chitosan is currently one of the most promising polymer systems, with wide biological applications. This current review gives [...] Read more.
Chitosan derivatives and composites are the next generation polymers for biomedical applications. With their humble origins from the second most abundant naturally available polymer chitin, chitosan is currently one of the most promising polymer systems, with wide biological applications. This current review gives a bird’s eye view of the antimicrobial applications of chitosan composites and derivatives. The antiviral activity and the mechanisms behind the inhibitory activity of these components have been reviewed. Specifically, the anti-COVID-19 aspects of chitosan composites and their derivatives have been compiled from the existing scattered reports and presented. Defeating COVID-19 is the battle of this century, and the chitosan derivative-based combat strategies naturally become very attractive. The challenges ahead and future recommendations have been addressed. Full article
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