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Antibiotics
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Secondary Metabolites from Natural Sources: Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Action and...
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Secondary Metabolites from Natural Sources: Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Action and Therapeutic Potential

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant-Derived Antibiotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 950

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fatima Cerqueira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal
2. Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto. CCC), Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 351, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: bioactive compounds; antitumor compounds; antimicrobial compounds; immunomodulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Maria Pia Ferraz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-180 Porto, Portugal
2. INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-180 Porto, Portugal
3. Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Interests: biomaterials with antimicrobial properties; infectious diseases; antimicrobial resistance mechanisms (ARM) and antimicrobial alternatives to ARM microorganisms; biofilms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Secondary metabolites from natural sources play a pivotal role in the discovery of novel antimicrobial agents. These bioactive compounds, produced by plants, fungi, bacteria, and marine organisms, exhibit diverse mechanisms of action, including the disruption of microbial membranes, inhibition of critical metabolic pathways, and modulation of virulence factors. With the growing global challenge of antibiotic resistance, secondary metabolites present an invaluable resource for innovative therapeutic strategies.

Research into these natural compounds involves understanding their biosynthesis, structural diversity, and specific antimicrobial mechanisms. Equally important is evaluating their potential for safe therapeutic applications, including synergistic effects with existing antibiotics and overcoming resistance in multidrug-resistant pathogens.

This Special Issue will focus on advancements in the discovery, characterization, and therapeutic application of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties. Contributions in the form of original research articles, reviews, and communications exploring their mechanisms of action and clinical potential are highly encouraged.

Dr. Fatima Cerqueira
Dr. Maria Pia Ferraz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • secondary metabolites
  • bioactive compounds

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

24 pages, 1182 KiB  
Review
Phenolic Compounds from Pyrus communis Residues: Mechanisms of Antibacterial Action and Therapeutic Applications
by Jessica Ribeiro, Vanessa Silva, Gilberto Igrejas, Lillian Barros, Sandrina A. Heleno, Filipa S. Reis and Patrícia Poeta
Antibiotics 2025, 14(3), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14030280 - 8 Mar 2025
Viewed by 782
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The food industry produces substantial amounts of fruit byproducts, which are often discarded despite their high content of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications. Pyrus communis (pear) residues, which are particularly rich in phenolic compounds, represent a valuable yet underutilized resource. These [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The food industry produces substantial amounts of fruit byproducts, which are often discarded despite their high content of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic applications. Pyrus communis (pear) residues, which are particularly rich in phenolic compounds, represent a valuable yet underutilized resource. These byproducts have demonstrated significant antioxidant and antibacterial properties, suggesting their potential for medical and pharmaceutical applications. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the phenolic profile of P. communis byproducts, emphasizing their antioxidant and antibacterial mechanisms and their prospective use in combating oxidative stress and antibacterial resistance. Methods: A comprehensive review of the key phenolic compounds from P. communis residues was conducted using ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases (from 2014 to 2024). Studies assessing antioxidant and antibacterial activities were reviewed, with a focus on their mechanisms of action against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Results: A minimum of 14 distinct phenolic compounds were identified among P. communis residues. However, chlorogenic acid and catechin were identified as the primary contributors to the antioxidant activity of P. communis residues. Hydroquinone and chlorogenic acid exhibited strong antibacterial effects through membrane disruption, enzyme inhibition, and metabolic interference. Despite this potential, hydroquinone’s cytotoxicity and regulatory concerns limit its direct pharmaceutical application. Conclusions: While P. communis phenolics show promise as natural antibacterial agents, future research should address bioavailability, extraction standardization, and safe formulation strategies. Investigating their synergy with conventional antibiotics and improving stability for cosmetic applications are key steps toward their practical use. In vivo and clinical studies are crucial to validating their therapeutic potential and ensuring regulatory approval. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Secondary Metabolites from Natural Sources: Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Action and Therapeutic Potential)
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