Antimicrobial Activities of Plant Extracts
A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant-Derived Antibiotics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 38102
Special Issue Editors
Interests: antioxidant activity; antimicrobial activity; ancient variety; total polyphenols contents; essential oils
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Plant antimicrobial activity is a crucial aspect of search for new antimicrobial preparations.
In fact, essential oils and plant extracts, synthesized by various parts of the plant during the secondary metabolism, have been explored and assayed for their antimicrobial properties against bacteria and fungal and viral pathogens.
The presence of a great number of alkaloids, phenols, terpenic derivatives, and other antimicrobial compounds makes plant extracts extremely active against a wide variety of microorganisms which are pathogenic to human and animal health.
Indeed, the antimicrobial activity of plant derivatives is the basis of many applications, especially in medicine, in the veterinary field, in food preservations, and in the control of plant diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria, etc.
Nevertheless, the rapid and effective control of plant diseases in CRP cultivations, food preservation, and human and veterinary diseases is generally achieved using synthetic pesticides, antifungals, and antibiotics. However, it is commonly known that rapid and effective control of plant diseases in the context of agriculture, food storage, and human and veterinary diseases is generally accomplished with synthetic pesticides, antifungals, and antibiotics.
These chemicals are often associated with negative effects both on the environment owing to their slow biodegradation and on human and animal health due to the persistence of toxic residues in food products. The risk of some microorganisms developing resistance and the high cost–benefit ratio are two other disadvantages of using synthetic compounds.
The results presented in many scientific articles have shown the efficacy of several essential oils and plant extracts with antimicrobial activity in different fields, suggesting their possible inclusion in antimicrobial preparations as potential control agents for the management of bacterial and fungal communities.
Plant secondary metabolites could also be used to a greater extent in the field of cultural heritage conservation, in particular by acting on the control of biodeterioration caused by micro-organisms, which is identified as a primary factor in damage to heritage works.
Studies concerning biodeterioration mechanisms caused by microbial communities might be useful to select appropriate prevention and control strategies. The control by essential oils and plant extracts against microbial strains is recommended considering the possible outcomes after the application of biocides:
1) No residues of the antimicrobial agents are left, and this avoids any undesirable effects on the heritage object;
2) Biocide residues are not removed, so recolonization of the surface is delayed as much as possible.
Generally, considering the unpredictability of the recolonization rate and the usual insufficient information related to commercial products, the first outcome is widely desired.
In this Special Issue, we invite researchers to contribute with research papers and reviews on the most innovative discoveries regarding the:
- Role of essential oils and plant extracts as antimicrobial agents against pathogens which determine different diseases on human health;
- Role of essential oils and plant extracts as antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine;
- Role of essential oils and plant extracts as antimicrobial agents on food preservation;
- Role of essential oils and plant extracts as antimicrobial agents in plant diseases;
- Role of essential oils and plant extracts as antimicrobial agents in the control of cultural heritage.
Dr. Anahi Elena Ada Bucchini
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- essential oils
- plant extracts
- antimicrobial activity
- oxidative stress
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