فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Antimicrobial resistance, especially in carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, is a global and urgent threat to public health. Carbapenems, the last line of defense, are now being challenged by the spread of resistance mechanisms among bacteria, especially the production of carbapenemases. Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli are associated with higher mortality rates and much more severe outcomes than drug-susceptible infections due to the failure of conventional therapies. This growing crisis has led researchers to urgently search for alternative therapeutic strategies. In the meantime, plant compounds have shown significant potential in combating these bacteria due to their unique chemical diversity and multiple mechanisms of action. These compounds exert their antibacterial effects through mechanisms such as the induction of oxidative stress and cell membrane damage, direct inhibition of carbapenemase enzymes, inhibition of efflux pumps, and inhibition of biofilm formation. In addition, many of these plant metabolites have shown a synergistic effect in combination with carbapenem antibiotics, leading to a significant reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of these antibiotics. Plant compounds are promising candidates for the development of new antimicrobial agents or therapeutic adjuvants against carbapenem-resistant bacteria because of their multi-target arsenal, favorable safety profile, and ability to create synergy with conventional antibiotics. However, a large proportion of the world’s plant species remain unknown. Extensive research and the use of in silico techniques can be effective in the discovery and development of plant compounds with antimicrobial activity. Although there are challenges in the path to the clinical development of these compounds, research in this area opens a promising path to overcoming antimicrobial resistance.