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Antibacterial Agents from Natural Source, 2nd Edition
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Antibacterial Agents from Natural Source, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2025) | Viewed by 10064

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Carlos H. G. Martins

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Antimicrobial Testing, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38405-320, MG, Brazil
Interests: antibacterial activity; medicinal plants; biofilm; anaerobe; natural products; medicinal chemistry; bioactive compounds; anti-virulence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The golden age of antibiotics is now becoming something of the past. This is due to both the increase in bacterial resistance against antibiotics, and the decrease in the investment by pharmacologic industries in the search for new antibacterial products. In this scenario, the search for new targets and antibacterial compounds that can control infections through natural products has become extremely relevant to advances in the knowledge in this area.

The research of natural products with antibacterial potential, which aims to obtain active principles or chemical synthesis models to develop new drugs, has reflected the enormous interest of the scientific community in this field. Moreover, the research on the biodiversity of crude extracts, isolated compounds, and derived synthetics, amongst other products, obtained from vegetal species, animal venom (vertebrate and invertebrate), and minerals plays an important role due to the rich terrestrial diversity and abundant possible sources. Therefore, this kind of research deserves to be further deepened.

The variety of molecules found in natural products has been contributing to the treatment of infectious diseases and they are a valuable resource in terms of antibacterial control through products commercialized by the cosmetic, dentistry, food, and plague-control industries, among others.

This Special Issue of Molecules will be dedicated to the publication of original research and reviews of bioactive compounds obtained from natural products with antibacterial potential in their different forms of expression: chemical approaches, biologic assays (in vitro and in vivo), new targets, and anti-virulence and in silico studies. Papers that describe the development of new alternatives and action mechanism strategies or pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of molecules obtained from natural products are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Carlos H. G. Martins
Guest Editor

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural products
  • antibacterial activity
  • anti-virulence
  • bioactive molecules
  • mechanisms and applications
  • biological activity
  • drug development
  • antibacterial peptides

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 3469 KB  
Article
Synergistic Antibacterial Effect of Eugenol and Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles on Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Isolated from Canine Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
by Weslei Roberto Correia Cabral, Caio Ferreira de Oliveira, Rogerio Giuffrida, Lais Fernanda de Almeida Spoladori, Isabela Madeira de Castro, Guilherme Bartolomeu-Gonçalves, Helena Tiemi Suzukawa, Gabriella Maria Andriani, Gerson Nakazato, Eliandro Reis Tavares, Lucy Megumi Yamauchi and Sueli Fumie Yamada-Ogatta
Molecules 2025, 30(16), 3353; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30163353 - 12 Aug 2025
Viewed by 464
Abstract
Plants are a valuable source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. Antibacterials of natural origin represent a promising and sustainable alternative in the fight against bacterial infections. In addition to being effective against bacterial growth, these natural agents may have lower toxicity and [...] Read more.
Plants are a valuable source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. Antibacterials of natural origin represent a promising and sustainable alternative in the fight against bacterial infections. In addition to being effective against bacterial growth, these natural agents may have lower toxicity and fewer side effects, which reinforces their value in the development of new therapeutic strategies. This study reports on the antibacterial effect of eugenol (EUG) and biogenic silver nanoparticles (bioAgNPs) synthesized using the aqueous extract of Trichilia catigua A. Juss. bark, alone or in combination, against planktonic and sessile cells of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, one of the main opportunistic pathogens in dogs. EUG and bioAgNPs showed a dose- and time-dependent bactericidal effect on planktonic cells, interfering with cell membrane integrity. The interaction between EUG and bioAgNPs was classified as synergistic or indifferent for planktonic cells. Except for one isolate, the combination exhibited a synergistic effect for biofilms previously formed on abiotic surfaces for 24 h. Both bioactive compounds promoted morphological and ultrastructural changes in S. pseudintermedius biofilms. All concentrations of EUG and bioAgNPs in synergistic or indifferent combinations showed reduced toxicity to mammalian cells. These findings suggest that the EUG and bioAgNP combination could be a promising strategy for controlling S. pseudintermedius infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Agents from Natural Source, 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 725 KB  
Article
Antibacterial Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of Origanum majorana, Salvia officinalis, and Ribes nigrum Against Digestive Pathogens: Polyphenolic Composition and In Vitro Assessment
by Oana-Roxana Haralambie, Cristiana-Ștefania Novac, Dragoș Hodor, Florica Ranga and Sanda Andrei
Molecules 2025, 30(16), 3341; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30163341 - 11 Aug 2025
Viewed by 356
Abstract
Digestive pathologies are commonly encountered in both human and veterinary medicine, frequently requiring antibiotic intervention. However, their extensive use has contributed to the global increase in antimicrobial resistance, posing a major public health challenge. With the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, alternative antimicrobial strategies [...] Read more.
Digestive pathologies are commonly encountered in both human and veterinary medicine, frequently requiring antibiotic intervention. However, their extensive use has contributed to the global increase in antimicrobial resistance, posing a major public health challenge. With the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, alternative antimicrobial strategies are urgently needed. This study assessed the total polyphenolic content and in vitro antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts from Origanum majorana, Salvia officinalis, and Ribes nigrum fruits against six digestive bacterial pathogens: Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Enterobacter cloacae, Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes, and Enterococcus faecalis. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. The total polyphenolic content of the extracts was 8509.457 μg/g for Salvia officinalis, 8140.996 μg/g for Origanum majorana, and 5776.616 μg/g for Ribes nigrum. R. nigrum showed the strongest antimicrobial effect (MIC 0.002 μg/μL; MBC 0.001 μg/μL) against Y. enterocolitica. S. officinalis had the highest efficacy against E. faecalis, while O. majorana was effective against both Y. enterocolitica and E. faecalis. All extracts showed bactericidal activity with MIC index values between 0.5 and 4. These findings suggest that these polyphenol-rich plant extracts may serve as promising natural antimicrobials or as adjuvants to conventional antibiotics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Agents from Natural Source, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1981 KB  
Article
Quorum Sensing and Mobility Inhibition of Pathogenic Bacteria by Fulvifomes mexicanus sp. nov.
by Angelica Bolaños-Nuñez, Michelle Martínez-Pineda, Ricardo Valenzuela, Mario Figueroa, Albert D. Patiño, Everardo Curiel-Quesada, César Ramiro Martínez-Gonzáles, Rodrigo Villanueva-Silva, Tania Raymundo and Abigail Pérez-Valdespino
Molecules 2025, 30(11), 2278; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112278 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 893
Abstract
The development of antimicrobial resistance drives the search for molecules capable of inhibiting bacterial virulence. Fungi of the Basidiomycota phylum constitute an important source of compounds with antimicrobial activity. The present paper describes a new species named Fulvifomes mexicanus sp. nov. based on [...] Read more.
The development of antimicrobial resistance drives the search for molecules capable of inhibiting bacterial virulence. Fungi of the Basidiomycota phylum constitute an important source of compounds with antimicrobial activity. The present paper describes a new species named Fulvifomes mexicanus sp. nov. based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. The methanolic extract of basidiome of this fungus inhibited the motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 and the production of violacein by Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. The metabolomic study of the extract by liquid chromatography–high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-HRESIMS) and molecular networking analyses revealed the presence of a complex composition of metabolites including hispidin derivatives, terpenoids, phenols, furanones, alkylglycerols, pyrones, and γ-butyrolactones, among others. Overall, this work represents the first chemical and biological study of a new species of Fulvifomes mexicanus as a source of antipathogenic metabolites for the development of novel antimicrobial agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Agents from Natural Source, 2nd Edition)
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10 pages, 1915 KB  
Article
Abietane-Type Diterpenoids from the Arils of Torreya grandis
by Yuqi Gao, Jinghui Yang, Yue Zhang, Linlin Gao, Junmian Tian, Wenbo Han and Jinming Gao
Molecules 2024, 29(9), 1905; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29091905 - 23 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1544
Abstract
A chemical investigation of the arils of Torreya grandis led to the isolation of seven abietane-type diterpenoids (compounds 1–7) including three previously undescribed compounds, one unreported natural product, and three known analogs. The structures of these compounds were determined by [...] Read more.
A chemical investigation of the arils of Torreya grandis led to the isolation of seven abietane-type diterpenoids (compounds 1–7) including three previously undescribed compounds, one unreported natural product, and three known analogs. The structures of these compounds were determined by means of spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and ECD spectra. An antibacterial activity assay showed that compounds 5 and 6 had significant inhibitory effects on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, with MIC values of 100 μM. Moreover, compounds 1, 3, 4, and 7 exhibited anti-neuroinflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia cells, with the IC50 values ranging from 38.4 to 67.9 μM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Agents from Natural Source, 2nd Edition)
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25 pages, 1146 KB  
Article
Phytochemical Profiles and Antimicrobial Activity of Selected Populus spp. Bud Extracts
by Piotr Okińczyc, Jarosław Widelski, Kinga Nowak, Sylwia Radwan, Maciej Włodarczyk, Piotr Marek Kuś, Katarzyna Susniak and Izabela Korona-Głowniak
Molecules 2024, 29(2), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020437 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2522
Abstract
Buds of poplar trees (Populus species) are often covered with sticky, usually polyphenol-rich, exudates. Moreover, accessible data showed that some Populus bud extracts may be excellent antibacterial agents, especially against Gram-positive bacteria. Due to the fragmentary nature of the data found, we [...] Read more.
Buds of poplar trees (Populus species) are often covered with sticky, usually polyphenol-rich, exudates. Moreover, accessible data showed that some Populus bud extracts may be excellent antibacterial agents, especially against Gram-positive bacteria. Due to the fragmentary nature of the data found, we conducted a systematic screening study. The antimicrobial activity of two extract types (semi-polar—ethanolic and polar—ethanolic-water (50/50; V/V)) from 27 bud samples of different poplar taxons were compared. Antimicrobial assays were performed against Gram-positive (five strains) and Gram-negative (six strains) bacteria as well as fungi (three strains) and covered the determination of minimal inhibitory, bactericidal, and fungicidal concentrations. The composition of extracts was later investigated by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detection (UHPLC-DAD) and with electrospray-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS). As a result, most of the extracts exhibited good (MIC ≤ 62.5 µg/mL) or moderate (62.5 < MIC ≤ 500 µg/mL) activity against Gram-positives and Helicobacter pylori, as well as fungi. The most active were ethanolic extracts from P. trichocarpa, P. trichocarpa clone ‘Robusta’, and P. tacamahaca × P. trichocarpa. The strongest activity was observed for P. tacamahaca × P. trichocarpa. Antibacterial activity was supposedly connected with the abundant presence of flavonoids (pinobanksin, pinobanksin 3-acetate, chrysin, pinocembrin, galangin, isosakuranetin dihydrochalcone, pinocembrin dihydrochalcone, and 2′,6′-dihydroxy-4′-methoxydihydrochalcone), hydroxycinnamic acids monoesters (p-methoxycinnamic acid cinnamyl ester, caffeic acid phenethylate and different isomers of prenyl esters), and some minor components (balsacones). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Agents from Natural Source, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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18 pages, 2000 KB  
Review
Lectins as Natural Antibiofilm Agents in the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance: A Review
by Thiago Henrique Napoleão, Thiago Lucas da Silva Lira, Emmanuel Viana Pontual, Gustavo Ramos Salles Ferreira and Pollyanna Michelle da Silva
Molecules 2025, 30(16), 3395; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30163395 - 15 Aug 2025
Viewed by 549
Abstract
Biofilms are complex microbial communities embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix. These structures confer increased resistance/tolerance to antimicrobial agents and immune responses, posing a serious challenge in both clinical and industrial contexts. In response to these challenges, increasing attention has been given [...] Read more.
Biofilms are complex microbial communities embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix. These structures confer increased resistance/tolerance to antimicrobial agents and immune responses, posing a serious challenge in both clinical and industrial contexts. In response to these challenges, increasing attention has been given to the development of novel antibiofilm strategies. Among the promising alternatives are lectins—carbohydrate-binding proteins. This review explores the structural and functional features of biofilms and critically discusses recent studies reporting the antibiofilm effects of lectins. Additionally, it addresses the main challenges and limitations surrounding the practical application of lectins to combat biofilms. Lectins from plants, animals, and microorganisms have shown potential to inhibit biofilm formation by disrupting the extracellular matrix, modulating quorum sensing, and affecting bacterial motility and metabolism. Additionally, they can eradicate established biofilms by degrading the matrix, killing or removing microbial cells, and/or preventing biofilm reformation. Together, the findings reviewed here support the continued investigation of lectins as potential agents against biofilm-associated infections as well as highlight the need to address existing gaps, such as the lack of in vivo studies and limited research on the structure–function relationships of lectins and their antibiofilm activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Agents from Natural Source, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1519 KB  
Review
The Role and Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Peptides in Overcoming Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
by Jinhui Yang, Junning Zhang, Zeyu Feng and Yunqi Ma
Molecules 2025, 30(1), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30010128 - 31 Dec 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2177
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are becoming more and more common, which presents a serious threat to world health and could eventually render many of the antibiotics we currently use useless. The research and development of innovative antimicrobial tactics that can defeat these hardy infections [...] Read more.
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are becoming more and more common, which presents a serious threat to world health and could eventually render many of the antibiotics we currently use useless. The research and development of innovative antimicrobial tactics that can defeat these hardy infections are imperative in light of this predicament. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which have attracted a lot of attention due to their distinct modes of action and capacity to elude conventional resistance mechanisms, are among the most promising of these tactics. As a promising substitute for conventional antibiotics, AMPs are a varied class of naturally occurring compounds that target bacteria membranes and disrupt cellular activities to demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The objective of this study is to present a thorough summary of the current knowledge regarding AMP mechanisms against MDR bacteria, including immunological modulation, interactions with microbial membranes, and possible synergy with currently used antimicrobial drugs. In addition, we define the review’s scope to include the most recent developments in AMP research, emphasizing the innovations’ development, optimization, and therapeutic promise. We hope to emphasize the crucial role that AMPs will play in the future of antimicrobial therapy by bringing together recent research and highlighting current issues. We also hope to advocate for AMPs’ continued research and development as part of a comprehensive strategy to counteract the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Agents from Natural Source, 2nd Edition)
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