Plant antibacterials: The challenges and opportunities.

Nature possesses an inexhaustible reservoir of agents that could serve as alternatives to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While some of the most effective drugs for treating bacterial infections originate from natural sources, they have predominantly been derived from fungal and bacterial species. However, a substantial body of literature is available on the promising antibacterial properties of plant-derived compounds. In this comprehensive review, we address the major challenges associated with the discovery and development of plant-derived antimicrobial compounds, which have acted as obstacles preventing their clinical use. These challenges encompass limited sourcing, the risk of agent rediscovery, suboptimal drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) properties, as well as a lack of knowledge regarding molecular targets and mechanisms of action, among other pertinent issues. Our review underscores the significance of these challenges and their implications in the quest for the discovery and development of effective plant-derived antimicrobial agents. Through a critical examination of the current state of research, we give valuable insights that will advance our understanding of these classes of compounds, offering potential solutions to the global crisis of AMR. © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Isolation of Two Plasticizers, Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Terephthalate and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate, from Capparis spinosa L. Leaves.

Many plants have been known to be contaminated and accumulate plasticizers from the environment, including water sources, soil, and atmosphere. Plasticizers are used to confer elasticity and flexibility to various fiber and plastic products. Consumption of plasticizers can lead to many adverse effects on human health, including reproductive and developmental toxicity, endocrine disruption, and cancer. Herein, we report for the first time that two plasticizers, bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), have been isolated from the leaves of Capparis spinosa L. (the caper bush), a plant that is widely used in food seasonings and traditional medicine. 297 mg/kg of DEHT and 48 mg/kg of DEHP were isolated from dried and grounded C. spinosa L. leaves using column chromatography and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Our study adds to the increase in the detection of plasticizers in our food and medicinal plants and to the alarming concern about their potential adverse effects on human health.

Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, Therapeutic Potential, and Socio-Economic Value of the Caper Bush (Capparis Spinosa L.).

Capparis spinosa L., commonly known as the caper bush, is an aromatic plant growing in most of the Mediterranean basin and some parts of Western Asia. C. spinosa L. has been utilized as a medicinal plant for quite a long time in conventional phytomedicine. Polyphenols and numerous bioactive chemicals extracted from C. spinosa L. display various therapeutic properties that have made this plant a target for further research as a health promoter. This review is meant to systematically summarize the traditional uses, the phytochemical composition of C. spinosa L., and the diverse pharmacological activities, as well as the synthetic routes to derivatives of some identified chemical components for the improvement of biological activities and enhancement of pharmacokinetic profiles. This review also addresses the benefits of C. spinosa L. in adapting to climate change and the socio-economic value that C. spinosa L. brings to the rural economies of many countries.