![]() They have a remarkable effect to other plants, microorganisms and animals from their immediate or wider environment. Plants produce a whole series of different compounds, which are not of particular significance for primary metabolism, but represent an adaptive ability of a plant to adverse abiotic and biotic environmental conditions. Therefore, the goals of this chapter are: (i) an update of literature review on synergism between plant extracts and antibiotics, (ii) presentation of experimental results of synergistic activity of selected plant extracts and antibiotics and (iii) concluding remarks. The systematic screening of plant-derived bioactive compounds, including those which can synergistically act with antibiotics, as resistance modifying agents represents a potential approach to overcome bacterial resistance. Plant-derived compounds could exhibit a direct antibacterial activity and/or an indirect activity as antibiotic resistance modifying compounds, which, combined with antibiotics, increase their effectiveness. Medicinal plants, with their long history of use in folk medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases, have become a promising new source of antibacterial agents. The alarming growth of the number of antibiotic resistant bacteria and difficulties in treatment of infections have initiated a search for new antibacterial compounds and develop new alternative strategies in combating bacterial infections. The final score is the list of multi-drug, health-threatening resistant bacteria: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and coagulase-negative staphylococci, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species (VRE), extended-spectrum β-lactamases producing Enterobacteriaceae, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, at present. Even more, there is evidence that some clinically relevant resistance genes have environmental origin. Resistance genes (via plasmids, transposons) may be transferred between individuals of the same or related bacterial species, between members of commensal or pathogenic microbiota and between different environmental habitats, thus spreading the resistance. This process of acquired resistance is supported by rapid mutation and horizontal transfer of resistance genes. ![]() An antibiotic, as a selective agent, induces genetic changes of bacteria, contributing to development, selection and spreading of resistant strains. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics are accelerating this process. ![]() The remarkable ability of bacteria to adapt to adverse environmental conditions makes them capable of surviving at clinically relevant concentrations of existing antibiotics resulting in the selection of resistant strains. But, in time, the number of antibiotic resistant bacteria has increased and antibiotic resistance has become a global public health threat. Those early treatment failures with antibiotics did not represent a significant clinical problem because other classes of agents, with different cellular targets, were available. Therefore, the goals of this chapter are (i) an update of literature review on synergism between plant extracts and antibiotics, (ii) presentation of experimental results of synergistic activity of selected plant extracts and antibiotics and (iii) concluding remarks.įrom the beginning of the antibiotic era, it was noticed that bacteria had the potential to develop resistance to antibiotics. This ability of plant active substances reflects in modification or blocking of resistance mechanism so that bacterium becomes sensitive to antibiotic or the antibiotic acts when in lower concentrations.
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