PLANT NATURAL METABOLITES AS ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS: A REVIEW

GOEL A.¹, SHARMA K.^2
1Amity Institute of Microbial Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida-201 301, UP, India.
²Department of Biotechnology, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur-313 001, Rajasthan, India.

Received : 07-11-2013     Accepted : 09-12-2013     Published : 26-12-2013
Volume : 2     Issue : 1       Pages : 21 - 29
World Res J Antimicrob Agents 2.1 (2013):21-29

In recent years utilization and search of drugs and dietary supplements derived from plants have been accelerated. Scientists and researchers are combing the Earth for phytochemicals and "leads" which could be developed for infectious diseases treatment. Pathogenic microbes have the ability to develop resistance against synthetic formulations. Apart from this, synthetic formulations are very toxic and responsible to destroy the soil fertility and ecological balance. Plant based formulations are least toxic and better for environment balance so it can be replace by synthetic formulations. Secondary metabolites found in plants are the main reason for their antimicrobial potential. Plants are rich in wide variety of secondary metabolites viz. tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, and flavonoids. This review attempts to summarize the current status of microbiological screening efforts as well as <i>in vivo</i> studies of plant extracts and phytochemicals, their effectiveness and toxicity against various microbes.