Development of Micellized Antimicrobial …
85
mortality worldwide at an alarming rate. Bacteria often develop antibiotic-resistant
genes through spontaneous mutation, thereby enhancing their chances of survival
in unfavorable circumstances. These genes code for efflux pump activation that
dislodges antibiotics from the cells, inhibit permeability of antibiotics through the cell
membrane, and produce enzymes (e.g., β-lactamase) that nullify the action of antibiotics or revert the antibiotic target (Moslamy and Shahira 2018). Staphylococcus
aureus, a Gram-positive bacterial species became resistant to penicillin treatment
by developing penicillinase-type counter enzyme. Methicillin was introduced in the
defense against this challenge. However, methicillin-resistant S. aureus developed
extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) to resist the modified β-lactams to render
it unable to bind adequately with its target. Klebsiella pneumonia, a Gram-negative
pathogen is the major cause of community-acquired infection, was found to have
genes like AmpC that encodes for β-lactamases, thus rendering it unresponsive to
wide-spectrum β-lactam drugs. The MDR strain of K. pneumonia is sensitive to
Colistin, an aggressive last-resort antibiotic. However, new mutant strain of Klebsiella is found to have mcr-1 gene that provides its enzymatic mechanism to resist
against Colistin, thereby making this particular strain Total Drug Resistant (TDR)
(Ankri et al. 1999). Such a significant rise of MDR and TDR strains necessitates
the discovery, design, and development of novel aggressive antibiotics. Dose-related
toxicity in juvenile and elderly population is a result of this new advancement. Fatal
situations are found commonly in terminal patients with end-of-life care facilities.
This present challenging scenario has uplifted the approach for holistic medicines or
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
3 Plant-Based Pharmacotherapy and Bioprocessing:
A Possible Solution
Plants remain a central source of drug to medical practices like Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicinal system). A recent report by the WHO indicated medicinal plants as one of the best potential sources of the novel drugs (Rao et al.
2006). Plant cell-based bioprocessing aims to produce phytochemicals with antitumor, antiviral, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasite, antimicrobial, and
immunomodulating properties. The detailed steps are presented in Fig. 1. Numerous
Indian medicinal plants used in folkloric medicine possess significant antimicrobial
properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Multiple studies
have reported that allicin from garlic possesses relatively high levels of antimicrobial
activity (Pool et al. 2006). Such plant-derived antimicrobials (PDAs) have particular
pharmaceutical value because bacterial virulence does not confer resistance against
PDAs.
85
mortality worldwide at an alarming rate. Bacteria often develop antibiotic-resistant
genes through spontaneous mutation, thereby enhancing their chances of survival
in unfavorable circumstances. These genes code for efflux pump activation that
dislodges antibiotics from the cells, inhibit permeability of antibiotics through the cell
membrane, and produce enzymes (e.g., β-lactamase) that nullify the action of antibiotics or revert the antibiotic target (Moslamy and Shahira 2018). Staphylococcus
aureus, a Gram-positive bacterial species became resistant to penicillin treatment
by developing penicillinase-type counter enzyme. Methicillin was introduced in the
defense against this challenge. However, methicillin-resistant S. aureus developed
extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) to resist the modified β-lactams to render
it unable to bind adequately with its target. Klebsiella pneumonia, a Gram-negative
pathogen is the major cause of community-acquired infection, was found to have
genes like AmpC that encodes for β-lactamases, thus rendering it unresponsive to
wide-spectrum β-lactam drugs. The MDR strain of K. pneumonia is sensitive to
Colistin, an aggressive last-resort antibiotic. However, new mutant strain of Klebsiella is found to have mcr-1 gene that provides its enzymatic mechanism to resist
against Colistin, thereby making this particular strain Total Drug Resistant (TDR)
(Ankri et al. 1999). Such a significant rise of MDR and TDR strains necessitates
the discovery, design, and development of novel aggressive antibiotics. Dose-related
toxicity in juvenile and elderly population is a result of this new advancement. Fatal
situations are found commonly in terminal patients with end-of-life care facilities.
This present challenging scenario has uplifted the approach for holistic medicines or
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
3 Plant-Based Pharmacotherapy and Bioprocessing:
A Possible Solution
Plants remain a central source of drug to medical practices like Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicinal system). A recent report by the WHO indicated medicinal plants as one of the best potential sources of the novel drugs (Rao et al.
2006). Plant cell-based bioprocessing aims to produce phytochemicals with antitumor, antiviral, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antiparasite, antimicrobial, and
immunomodulating properties. The detailed steps are presented in Fig. 1. Numerous
Indian medicinal plants used in folkloric medicine possess significant antimicrobial
properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Multiple studies
have reported that allicin from garlic possesses relatively high levels of antimicrobial
activity (Pool et al. 2006). Such plant-derived antimicrobials (PDAs) have particular
pharmaceutical value because bacterial virulence does not confer resistance against
PDAs.