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Antibiotics
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Plants, Lichens, Fungi, and Algae Extracts and Derivatives with Antimicrobial...
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Plants, Lichens, Fungi, and Algae Extracts and Derivatives with Antimicrobial Properties for Nutrition and Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2025 | Viewed by 8839

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Violeta Popovici

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Guest Editor
Agro-Forestry and Biodiversity Laboratory, Natural Parks and Protected Areas, “Costin C. Kiriţescu” National Institute of Economic Research—Center for Mountain Economics (INCE-CEMONT) of Romanian Academy, 725700 Vatra Dornei, Romania
Interests: plant/lichen secondary metabolites-identification and pharmacological potential; antibiotics; antimicrobial activity; in vitro anticancer activity; oral cancer; ROS; oxidative stress; antioxidants/pro-oxidants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Emma Adriana Ozon

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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: drug design; development, optimization, and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products; preformulating studies on pharmaceuticals; physico-chemical characterization of materials; cyclodextrin inclusion complexes; drug delivery systems; pharmaceutical processes; drug release profiles; quality of pharmaceutical forms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Andreea Letitia Arsene

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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, 020956 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: prebiotics; probiotics; microbiota; microbiology control; infectious contaminants; food safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Verginica Schroder

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Guest Editor
Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ovidius University of Constanta, 6 Capitan Al. Serbanescu Street, 900001 Constanta, Romania
Interests: plant extracts cytotoxicity; biotic and abiotic stress interactions in bio-deterioration; antimicrobial activity of natural products; biofilms in healthcare settings

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is an increasing interest in food and natural pharmaceutical products that are healthy and safe for humans. Therefore, plants, lichens, fungi and algae attract substantial attention due to their valuable constituents and health benefits, preventing and treating various infectious diseases and improving consumer well-being. The variety of biologically active metabolites with antimicrobial activity indicates their possible suitability as food sources and pharmaceutical formulations.

This Special Issue is focused on, but not limited to:

  • The antimicrobial properties of plants, lichens, fungi and algae used in traditional medicine, and current trends in biotechnology and pharmaceutical products for human and veterinary medicine;
  • Novel plant-derived products with antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal and antihelminthic properties;
  • The relationship between antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of various plant secondary metabolites;
  • The valorization of plant by-products for antimicrobial phytoconstituents extraction;
  • Essential oils and other plant-derived product applications in food packaging to prevent microbial contamination;
  • The impact of plant, lichens, fungal and algal phytochemicals on the gut and oral cavity microbiota for a balanced life;
  • The most recent findings related to plant, lichens, fungi and algae ingredients as functional foods, helpful for infectious disease prophylaxis and complementary therapy;
  • Case studies regarding the influence of plant-based medical nutrition intervention to prevent and treat various infectious diseases.

We are looking forward to receiving your valuable contribution.

Dr. Violeta Popovici
Dr. Emma Adriana Ozon
Prof. Dr. Andreea Letitia Arsene
Dr. Verginica Schroder
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

  • antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity
  • plants/lichens/fungi/algae extracts and derived products with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoal and antihelmintic properties
  • antimicrobial metabolites: quantification and characterization
  • pharmaceutical formulation
  • in vivo and in vitro testing
  • essential oils with antimicrobial properties for the pharmaceutical and food industry
  • functional foods, plant-based diet
  • case studies
  • prevention and treatment of infectious diseases with plant-derived products

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2315 KiB  
Article
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticle Using Black Mulberry and Characterization, Phytochemical, and Bioactivity
by Yoo-Na Jeon, Su-Ji Ryu, Ha-Yeon Lee, Jang-Oh Kim and Jong-Suep Baek
Antibiotics 2024, 13(8), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13080686 - 24 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 858
Abstract
Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extracts has been proposed as a more advantageous and environmentally friendly alternative compared to existing physical/chemical methods. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized from silver nitrate using black mulberry (BM) extract. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized [...] Read more.
Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extracts has been proposed as a more advantageous and environmentally friendly alternative compared to existing physical/chemical methods. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized from silver nitrate using black mulberry (BM) extract. The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized through an UV-visible spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, BM-AgNPs were subjected to antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. AgNPs biosynthesized from BM extract were dark brown in color and showed a strong peak at 437 nm, confirming that AgNPs were successfully synthesized. The size of AgNPs was 170.17 ± 12.65 nm, the polydispersity index was 0.281 ± 0.07, and the zeta potential value was −56.6 ± 0.56 mV, indicating that the particles were stable. The higher total phenol, flavonoid, and anthocyanin content of BM-AgNPs compared to BM extract indicates that the particles contain multiple active substances due to the formation of AgNPs. The DPPH and ABTS assays showed decreased IC50 values compared to BM extract, demonstrating improved antioxidant activity. AgNPs inhibited the growth of S. aureus and E. coli at 600 μg/mL, with minimum bactericidal concentrations determined to be 1000 and 1200 μg/mL, respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity was 64.28% at a BM-AgNPs concentration of 250 μg/mL. As the concentration increased, the difference from the standard decreased, indicating the inhibitory effect of AgNPs on bovine serum albumin denaturation. The viability of MCF-7 cells treated with BM-AgNPs was found to be significantly lower than that of cells treated with BM extract. The IC50 value of BM-AgNPs was determined to be 96.9 μg/mL. This study showed that BM-AgNPs have the potential to be used in the pharmaceutical industry as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants, Lichens, Fungi, and Algae Extracts and Derivatives with Antimicrobial Properties for Nutrition and Health)
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15 pages, 1982 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Antimicrobial Potential of Portuguese Propolis Extracts from Gerês against Pathogenic Microorganisms
by Rafaela Dias Oliveira, Carina Araújo and Cristina Almeida-Aguiar
Antibiotics 2024, 13(7), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13070655 - 16 Jul 2024
Viewed by 904
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of humanity’s main health problems today. Despite all the breakthroughs and research over the past few years, the number of microbial illnesses that are resistant to the available antibiotics is increasing at an alarming rate. In this article, [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of humanity’s main health problems today. Despite all the breakthroughs and research over the past few years, the number of microbial illnesses that are resistant to the available antibiotics is increasing at an alarming rate. In this article, we estimated the biomedical potential of Portuguese propolis harvested from the Gerês apiary over five years, evaluating the in vitro antimicrobial effect of five hydroalcoholic extracts prepared from five single propolis samples and of a hydroalcoholic extract obtained from the mixture of all samples. The antimicrobial potential was firstly assessed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of these extracts against a panel of three Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and one Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), as well as two yeasts (Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae). As MIC values against each bacterium were consistent across all the evaluated propolis extracts, we decided to further conduct a disk diffusion assay, which included three commercial antibiotics—erythromycin, vancomycin, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid—for comparison purposes. In addition to displaying a concentration-dependent antibacterial effect, the hydroalcoholic extracts prepared with 70% ethanol exhibited stronger antimicrobial capacity than vancomycin against B. subtilis (% of increase ranged between 26 and 59%) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (% of increase ranged between 63 and 77%). Moreover, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) showed susceptibility to the activity of the same extracts and resistance to all tested antibiotics. These findings support that propolis from Gerês is a promising natural product with promising antimicrobial activity, representing a very stimulating result considering the actual problem with AMR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants, Lichens, Fungi, and Algae Extracts and Derivatives with Antimicrobial Properties for Nutrition and Health)
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15 pages, 2051 KiB  
Article
Anti-Infective Activity of Momordica charantia Extract with Molecular Docking of Its Triterpenoid Glycosides
by Mohammed Aldholmi, Rizwan Ahmad, Mohammad Habeeb Shaikh, Ayad Mohammed Salem, Maher Alqurashi and Mansour Alturki
Antibiotics 2024, 13(6), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13060544 - 11 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1175
Abstract
Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon, is a fruiting plant that has been used for several diseases including infectious diseases. In this study, we report the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity of different bitter melon fruit parts originating from India and [...] Read more.
Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon, is a fruiting plant that has been used for several diseases including infectious diseases. In this study, we report the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity of different bitter melon fruit parts originating from India and Saudi Arabia. The in vitro experiments are supported by the molecular docking of karavilosides to verify their role in the bioactivity. The antimicrobial assays revealed activity against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The extracts exhibited the potent inhibition of HIV-I reverse transcriptase, with an IC50 of 0.125 mg/mL observed for the pith extract originating from Saudi Arabia and the standard drug doxorubicin. The molecular docking of karavilosides exhibited a significant affinity to reverse transcriptase comparable to Rilpivirine and higher than that of doxorubicin. These outcomes encourage the precious bioactive components of the seed and pith of the Saudi bitter melon fruits to be further studied for isolation and structure elucidation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants, Lichens, Fungi, and Algae Extracts and Derivatives with Antimicrobial Properties for Nutrition and Health)
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17 pages, 1078 KiB  
Article
Spent Material Extractives from Hemp Hydrodistillation as an Underexplored Source of Antimicrobial Cannabinoids
by Simon Vlad Luca, Krzysztof Wojtanowski, Izabela Korona-Głowniak, Krystyna Skalicka-Woźniak, Mirjana Minceva and Adriana Trifan
Antibiotics 2024, 13(6), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13060485 - 24 May 2024
Viewed by 970
Abstract
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has been used for millennia as a rich source of food and fibers, whereas hemp flowers have only recently gained an increased market interest due to the presence of cannabinoids and volatile terpenes. Currently, the hemp flower processing [...] Read more.
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has been used for millennia as a rich source of food and fibers, whereas hemp flowers have only recently gained an increased market interest due to the presence of cannabinoids and volatile terpenes. Currently, the hemp flower processing industry predominantly focuses on either cannabinoid or terpene extraction. In an attempt to maximize the valorization of hemp flowers, the current study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of several extracts obtained from post-distillation by-products (e.g., spent material, residual distillation water) in comparison to the essential oil and total extract obtained from unprocessed hemp flowers. A terpene analysis of the essential oil revealed 14 monoterpenes and 35 sesquiterpenes. The cannabinoid profiling of extracts showed seven acidic precursors and 14 neutral derivatives, with cannabidiol (CBD) reaching the highest concentration (up to 16 wt.%) in the spent material extract. The antimicrobial assessment of hemp EO, cannabinoid-containing extracts, and single compounds (i.e., CBD, cannabigerol, cannabinol, and cannabichromene) against a panel of 20 microbial strains demonstrated significant inhibitory activities against Gram-positive bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, and Trichophyton species. In conclusion, this work suggests promising opportunities to use cannabinoid-rich materials from hemp flower processing in functional foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals with antimicrobial properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants, Lichens, Fungi, and Algae Extracts and Derivatives with Antimicrobial Properties for Nutrition and Health)
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27 pages, 7045 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Activity of Commercially Available Essential Oils Combinations with Conventional Antibiotics against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria
by Răzvan Neagu, Violeta Popovici, Lucia-Elena Ionescu, Viorel Ordeanu, Andrei Biță, Diana Mihaela Popescu, Emma Adriana Ozon and Cerasela Elena Gîrd
Antibiotics 2024, 13(6), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13060478 - 23 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1645
Abstract
The present study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of five commercially available essential oils (EOs), Lavender (LEO), Clove (CEO), Oregano (OEO), Eucalyptus (EEO), and Peppermint (PEO), against the most-known MDR Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria—Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), [...] Read more.
The present study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of five commercially available essential oils (EOs), Lavender (LEO), Clove (CEO), Oregano (OEO), Eucalyptus (EEO), and Peppermint (PEO), against the most-known MDR Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria—Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853)—alone and in various combinations. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis established their complex compositions. Then, their antibacterial activity—expressed as the inhibition zone diameter (IZD) value (mm)—was investigated in vitro by the diffusimetric antibiogram method, using sterile cellulose discs with Ø 6 mm impregnated with 10 µL of sample and sterile borosilicate glass cylinders loaded with 100 µL; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value (µg/mL) for each EO was calculated from the IZD values (mm) measured after 24 h. The following EO combinations were evaluated: OEO+CEO, CEO+EEO, CEO+PEO, LEO+EEO, and EEO+PEO. Then, the influence of each dual combination on the activity of three conventional antibacterial drugs—Neomycin (NEO), Tetracycline (TET), and Bacitracin (BAC)—was investigated. The most active EOs against S. aureus and E. coli were LEO and OEO (IZD = 40 mm). They were followed by CEO and EEO (IZD = 20–27 mm); PEO exhibited the lowest antibacterial activity (IZD = 15–20 mm). EEO alone showed the highest inhibitory activity on P. aeruginosa (IZD = 25–35 mm). It was followed by CEO, LEO, and EEO (IZD = 7–11 mm), while PEO proved no antibacterial action against it (IZD = 0 mm). Only one synergic action was recorded (OEO+CEO against P. aeruginosa); EEO+PEO revealed partial synergism against S. aureus and CEO+PEO showed additive behavior against E. coli. Two triple associations with TET showed partial synergism against E. coli, and the other two (with NEO and TET) evidenced the same behavior against S. aureus; all contained EEO+PEO or CEO+PEO. Most combinations reported indifference. However, numerous cases involved antagonism between the constituents included in the double and triple combinations, and the EOs with the strongest antibacterial activities belonged to the highest antagonistic combinations. A consistent statistical analysis supported our results, showing that the EOs with moderate antibacterial activities could generate combinations with higher inhibitory effects based on synergistic or additive interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants, Lichens, Fungi, and Algae Extracts and Derivatives with Antimicrobial Properties for Nutrition and Health)
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14 pages, 2055 KiB  
Article
Efficacy and Synergistic Potential of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and Clove (Syzygium aromaticum L. Merr. & Perry) Essential Oils to Control Food-Borne Pathogens in Fresh-Cut Fruits
by Ramona Iseppi, Eleonora Truzzi, Carla Sabia and Patrizia Messi
Antibiotics 2024, 13(4), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13040319 - 31 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2012
Abstract
The presence of microbial pathogens in ready-to-eat produce represents a serious health problem. The antibacterial activity of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum L. Merr. & Perry) essential oils (EOs) was determined toward food-borne pathogens by agar disk diffusion [...] Read more.
The presence of microbial pathogens in ready-to-eat produce represents a serious health problem. The antibacterial activity of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum L. Merr. & Perry) essential oils (EOs) was determined toward food-borne pathogens by agar disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. The growth kinetics of all strains, both in a buffer suspension assay and “on food” in artificially contaminated samples, were also investigated. The two EOs demonstrated a good antibacterial effect both alone and in combination (EO/EO). The use of EO/EO led to a synergistic antibacterial effect, also confirmed by the growth kinetics studies, where the EOs were active after 10 h of incubation (p < 0.0001) at significantly lower concentrations than those when alone. In the “on food” studies performed on artificially contaminated fruit samples stored at 4 °C for 8 days, the greatest killing activity was observed at the end of the trial (8 days) with a reduction of up to 7 log CFU/g compared to the control. These results confirm the good antibacterial activity of the EOs, which were more effective when used in combination. Data from the "on food" studies suggest cinnamon and clove essential oils, traditionally used in the food industry, as a possible natural alternative to chemical additives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plants, Lichens, Fungi, and Algae Extracts and Derivatives with Antimicrobial Properties for Nutrition and Health)
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