Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Therapeutic Potentials of Phytochemicals in Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

Possible Okikiola Popoola, Margaret Seun Ijibadejo, Deborah Olufunmilayo Adejumo, Oghenefejiro Dorcas Efeurhobo, Oluwanifemi Omodara Ogunleye, Leah Titilayo Olawumi, Tosin Titus Olaniran, Mercy Mary Ogunwale, Chinedum Ojinaka Okafor, Oluwagbemisola Elizabeth Elesho, Yakub Yakub Tunde, Igben Osu Gold

Asian Journal of Research in Biochemistry · pp. 48–62 · Published 23 Jan 2025

10.9734/ajrb/2025/v15i1350

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a grave threat to global health that is made worse by the abuse and excessive use of antibiotics. This review looks into the processes of this bacterial resistance, particularly efflux pump systems, and calls for the consideration of alternative approaches. The antimicrobial plant derived bioactive compounds, rich in phytochemicals, are of significance as they can serve to mute the resistance mechanisms. Some of the core active compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, and essential oils have been proven to work on some multi-drug resistant pathogens Among other things, this review also discusses how phytochemicals interact with ordinary antibiotics to improve drug effectiveness while minimizing the chances of resistance. The case studies emphasized suggest that plant derived antimicrobials are potent tools in the fight against AMR. In conclusion, the results emphasize the need for the incorporation of phytochemicals within modern treatment approaches in order to curb the problems of AMR in the world.

Antimicrobial resistance phytochemicals antibiotics multi-drug resistance

References (61)

  1. 1 Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance [DOI]
  2. 2 Comprehensive review of antimicrobial activities of plant flavonoids [DOI]
  3. 3 Multidrug efflux pumps: structure, function and regulation [DOI]
  4. 4 A Comprehensive Review on Medicinal Plants as Antimicrobial Therapeutics: Potential Avenues of Biocompatible Drug Discovery [DOI]
  5. 5 Phytochemicals for human disease: An update on plant-derived compounds antibacterial activity [DOI]
  6. 6 Exploring Phytochemicals for Combating Antibiotic Resistance in Microbial Pathogens [DOI]
  7. 7 Chalcone derivatives and their antibacterial activities: Current development [DOI]
  8. 8 Myrcene—What Are the Potential Health Benefits of This Flavouring and Aroma Agent? [DOI]
  9. 9 Antimicrobial Activity of Polyphenols and Natural Polyphenolic Extracts on Clinical Isolates [DOI]
  10. 10 Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants against multi-drug resistant bacteria from clinical isolates [DOI]
  11. 11 Multidrug efflux pumps of Gram-positive bacteria [DOI]
  12. 12 Combating Pathogenic Microorganisms Using Plant-Derived Antimicrobials: A Minireview of the Mechanistic Basis [DOI]
  13. 13 Endophytic fungi: a reservoir of antibacterials [DOI]
  14. 14 Therapeutic Potential of Plants as Anti‐Microbials for Drug Discovery [DOI]
  15. 15 Antimicrobial Activity of Plant Secondary Metabolites: A Review [DOI]
  16. 16 The alarming antimicrobial resistance in ESKAPEE pathogens: Can essential oils come to the rescue? [DOI]
  17. 17 Assessment of the antibiofilm and antiquorum sensing activities of Eucalyptus globulus essential oil and its main component 1,8-cineole against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains [DOI]
  18. 18 Antibacterial activity and mechanism of berberine against Streptococcus agalactiae.
  19. 19 Therapeutic Potential of Steroidal Alkaloids in Cancer and Other Diseases [DOI]
  20. 20 Inhibitory effects of flavonoids on biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus that overexpresses efflux protein genes [DOI]
  21. 21 Health Benefits of Flavonoids [DOI]
  22. 22 Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of selected Apiaceous fruits [DOI]
  23. 23 Expanding the chemical space for natural products by Aspergillus-Streptomyces co-cultivation and biotransformation [DOI]
  24. 24 Naturally-Occurring Alkaloids of Plant Origin as Potential Antimicrobials against Antibiotic-Resistant Infections [DOI]
  25. 25 Phytochemicals as Prebiotics and Biological Stress Inducers [DOI]
  26. 26 Efflux pump inhibitors: new updates [DOI]
  27. 27 Discovering Health Benefits of Phytochemicals with Integrated Analysis of the Molecular Network, Chemical Properties and Ethnopharmacological Evidence [DOI]
  28. 28 Naringin sensitizes the antibiofilm effect of ciprofloxacin and tetracycline against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm [DOI]
  29. 29 Pharmacological activity of Alkaloids: A Review [DOI]
  30. 30 Opportunities and challenges in managing antibiotic resistance in bacteria using plant secondary metabolites [DOI]
  31. 31 Natural products from resurrection plants: Potential for medical applications [DOI]
  32. 32 Chemical composition and antibiofilm activity of Petroselinum crispum and Ocimum basilicum essential oils against Vibrio spp. strains [DOI]
  33. 33 Antimicrobial compounds from seaweeds-associated bacteria and fungi [DOI]
  34. 34 Bacterial Cell Wall Compounds as Promising Targets of Antimicrobial Agents I. Antimicrobial Peptides and Lipopolyamines [DOI]
  35. 35 The Revaluation of Plant-Derived Terpenes to Fight Antibiotic-Resistant Infections [DOI]
  36. 36 Tropical biodiversity: has it been a potential source of secondary metabolites useful for medicinal chemistry? [DOI]
  37. 37 Comparative Investigation of Composition, Antifungal, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the Essential Oil from Three Industrial Hemp Varieties from Italian Cultivation [DOI]
  38. 38 Dual role of pinostrobin-a flavonoid nutraceutical as an efflux pump inhibitor and antibiofilm agent to mitigate food borne pathogens [DOI]
  39. 39 Antibacterial products of marine organisms [DOI]
  40. 40 Synergism of the Combination of Traditional Antibiotics and Novel Phenolic Compounds against Escherichia coli [DOI]
  41. 41 Environmental toxicants, oxidative stress and health adversities: interventions of phytochemicals [DOI]
  42. 42 The Modulatory Influence of Plant-Derived Compounds on Human Keratinocyte Function [DOI]
  43. 43 Antibacterial Molecules from Marine Microorganisms against Aquatic Pathogens: A Concise Review [DOI]
  44. 44 An Overview of Bacterial Efflux Pumps and Computational Approaches to Study Efflux Pump Inhibitors [DOI]
  45. 45 Characterization of the Phytochemical Composition and Bioactivities of Anacyclus maroccanus Ball. and Anacyclus radiatus Loisel Aerial Parts: Preliminary Evidence for the Possible Development of Moroccan Plants [DOI]
  46. 46 Medicinal plants combating against human pathogens: A review
  47. 47 SYNERGISTIC EFFECT OF NARINGENIN WITH CONVENTIONAL ANTIBIOTICS AGAINST METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
  48. 48 PHARMACOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF LEAVES OF POLYPODIUM DECUMANUM FOR ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY [DOI]
  49. 49 Involuntary clients in social work practice: a research-based approach [DOI]
  50. 50 Major Phytochemicals: Recent Advances in Health Benefits and Extraction Method [DOI]
  51. 51 Antibiotic resistance: a global crisis, problems and solutions [DOI]
  52. 52 Plant-Derived Antimicrobials and Their Crucial Role in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance [DOI]
  53. 53 Game changers in science and technology - now and beyond [DOI]
  54. 54 An Overview of the Global Alarming Increase of Multiple Drug Resistant: A Major Challenge in Clinical Diagnosis [DOI]
  55. 55 Phenolic Compounds in Bacterial Inactivation: A Perspective from Brazil [DOI]
  56. 56 Marine pharmacology in 2018: Marine compounds with antibacterial, antidiabetic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis and antiviral activities; affecting the immune and nervous systems, and other miscellaneous mechanisms of action [DOI]
  57. 57 Natural compounds targeting nuclear receptors for effective cancer therapy [DOI]
  58. 58 Comparative Investigation of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Effects of the Extracts from the Inflorescences and Leaves of the Cannabis sativa L. cv. strawberry [DOI]
  59. 59 Plant-Derived Compounds for the Treatment of Schistosomiasis [DOI]
  60. 60 Plants with Antimicrobial Activity against Escherichia coli, a Meta-Analysis for Green Veterinary Pharmacology Applications [DOI]
  61. 61 Antibacterial-Resistant Pathogens Mechanisms of Transmission and Strategies for Prevention and Control [DOI]

Cited by 6

Antimicrobial Resistance: The Answers

Beverley Cherie Millar, Mary J. Cates, Marco S. Torrisi · British Journal of Biomedical Science · 2026

Dual action of herbal compounds in Klebsiella pneumoniae infection and associated inflammatory diseases

Uzma Saqib, Sakina Ratlamwala, Nidhi Kibe · Frontiers in Immunology · 2026

Showing 3 of 6 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

69

Page views

0

PDF downloads

31

Outbound clicks

6

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.