Biological properties of medicinal plants: a review of their antimicrobial activity

Silva NCC (1), Fernandes Júnior A (1)

(1) Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Botucatu Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP &endash; Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Plants have been used for thousands years to give flavor to and conserve food, to treat health disorders, to prevent plagues and diseases and to decorate our lives. The knowledge of their use to heal has been transmitted over the centuries within and between communities. Active compounds produced during secondary metabolism usually are responsible for the biological properties of plants and human populations throughout the globe make use of them for various purposes, including treatment of infectious diseases. Currently, the knowledge of the antimicrobial activity of numerous plants, so far considered empiric, has been scientifically confirmed, concomitantly with the increasing frequency of reports on pathogenic microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials. Products derived from plants have the potential to control microbial growth in different situations and in the specific case of disease treatment, innumerous studies have aimed to describe the chemical composition of these plant antimicrobials and several mechanisms involved in microbial growth inhibition, either separately or associated with conventional antimicrobials. Thus, in the present work, medicinal plants with emphasis on their antimicrobial properties are studied.

KEY WORDS: medicinal plants, phytochemistry, antimicrobial activity, plant extracts, essential oils, synergism.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

ARY FERNANDES JUNIOR, Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Junior, s/n, Botucatu, SP, 18618-970, Brasil. Phone: +55 14 3811 6058. Email: ary@ibb.unesp.br