New herbal antibiotics soon?

Scientists have identified plants that play a role in antibacterial activity for the first time, so that their work can serve as a guide in the design of new antibiotics and thus combat pathogens that have become resistant.

Citrus fruits, daisies, beans or mint

459 natural products were included in the research, such as Brazilian pepper or European chestnut, which inhibit antibiotic-resistant bacteria. More precisely, the triterpenoid acids of the Brazilian pepper tree “disarm” Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA, blocking its ability to produce toxins. More common plants, such as citrus, daisies, beans or mint, were also analyzed.

“The introduction of natural plant products into the pharmaceutical industry is limited by the complexity of the discovery process”, explains Cassandra Quave, director of the studio. “You must first identify a promising candidate plant, then examine the hundreds of chemicals that make it up to identify the active compound and finally be able to isolate enough of this compound to experiment on it. “ continues the scientist.

Antibiotic resistance has become a real public health problem

In recent years, antibiotic resistance has become a real public health problem. It is related to the abuse of antibiotics which generates, over time, an increase in bacterial resistance, which ultimately threatens the effectiveness of these treatments. In Europe, the European Center for Disease Control estimates that 25,000 deaths per year result from antibiotic resistance.

In the field of virology, two Lancet studies recently revealed the efficacy of a flu vaccine based on viruses or bacteria grown on plants, a previously unprecedented initiative.