Antibiotics Potentiation With Plant Products – a Review a Research Project
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives Of Study
To review available literature on the use of Plant products and antibiotics in combination for the control of resistant microorganism.
CHAPTER TWO
MEDICINAL PLANTS
Definition of Medicinal plant
Medicinal plants may be defined as those plants that are commonly used in treating and preventing specific ailments and diseases and that are generally considered to be harmful to humans. (Schluz et al., 2001).Medicinal plants are also called Medicinal Herbs, they have similar properties as the conventional pharmaceutical drugs.
Medicinal plants play an important role in the development of potent therapeutic agents. Today it is estimate, that about 80 % of people in developing countries still rely on traditional medicine based largely on species of plants and animals for their primary health care (Pathak, and Das 2013). It is estimated that there are 250,000 to 500,000 species of plants on Earth (Boris, 1996). A relatively small percentage (1 to 10%)] of these are used as foods by both humans and other animal species. It is possible that even more percentage are used for medicinal purposes (Moerman, 1996).
The therapeutic power of herbs had been recognized since creation of the universe and botanic medicine is one of the oldest practiced professions by mankind (Kambizi and Afolayan, 2001). Medicinal plants possess immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties, leading to antibacterial activities. They are known to have versatile immunomodulatory activity by stimulating both non-specific and specific immunity (Pandey et al., 2006). The use of plant extracts as well as other alternative forms of medical treatments has been enjoying great popularity since in the late 1990s. It is reported that on average, two or three antibiotics derived from microorganism are launched each year. Science is also realizing that the life span of any antibiotics is limited as resistance is setting in due to over prescription and misuse of traditional antibiotics. Main stream medicine is increasingly receptive to the use of antimicrobial and other drugs derived from plants, as traditional antibiotics (products of microorganism and their synthesized derivatives) become ineffective.
An important characteristic of plant extracts and their components is their hydrophobicity, which enable them to partition the lipids of the bacterial cell membrane and mitochondria, disturbing the cell structures and rendering them more permeable (Sikkema et al.,1994). The inhibition produced by the plant extracts against particular organism depends upon various extrinsic and intrinsic parameters. Ethno botanical approach is one of the common methods that are employed in choosing the plant for pharmacological study. Plants parts which are used includes, stem, Bark, rhizome, Leaves, roots, of plant, these parts are extracted of their therapeutic component for use.
Phytochemicals are chemicals of plant origin. Breslin, 2017. Phytochemicals (from Greek phyto, meaning “plant”) are chemicals produced by plants through primary or secondary metabolism. (Molyneux, et al., 2007) They generally have biological activity in the plant host and play a role in plant growth or defense against competitors, pathogens, or predators. (Harbone et al., 1999). Phytochemicals can be grouped as carotenoids, phenolics, alkaloids, nitrogen-containing compounds and organosulfur compounds. Plants have an almost infinite ability to produce aromatic substance, most of which are phenols or their oxygen-substituted derivatives (Kambizi and Afolayan, 2001).The most investigated phytochemicals are the phenolics and carotenoids (Ames and Gold, 1991). Many more compounds with antibacterial potentials from different species of plants have been isolated (Park et al., 2008; Tsao and Yin, 2001; Iwu et al., 1999; Smith et al., 2007). There is a feeling among natural-products chemists and microbiologist alike that the multitude of potentially useful phytochemical is at risk of being lost irretrievably. It is largely recognized that most of the currently available antimicrobials which are mainly synthetic are almost inefficient and most of these agents elicit terrible effects to recipients. Plant metabolites are classified into primary and secondary metabolites.
Primary metabolite is a kind of metabolite that is directly involved in normal growth, development, and reproduction. It usually performs a physiological function in the organism (i.e. an intrinsic function). A primary metabolite is typically present in many organisms or cells. It is also referred to as a central metabolite, which has an even more restricted meaning (present in any autonomously growing cell or organism). Some common examples of primary metabolites include: lactic acid, and certain amino acids. Note: Primary metabolites do not show any pharmacological actions or effects.
CHAPTER THREE
Antibiotic Potentiation
Antibiotic potentiators as adjuncts to antimicrobial therapy are a potential solution to the global challenge of antibiotic resistance. The development of new antimicrobial chemical entities (NACEs) de novo is a lengthy process and so alternative therapeutic strategies must be developed in the interim. Extending the lifespan and spectrum of activity of current antibiotics could be achieved by co- or concurrent therapy with a compound that can restore its activity against resistant bacteria, the combination of amoxicillin with clavulanate is a currently licensed example of this approach. Some existing drugs with an established clinical history for other indications also have resistance-breaking properties which might be harnessed to provide much needed novel antimicrobial therapy solutions, and have been described as antibiotic adjuvants.
Advantages and Disadvantages of antibiotics combination therapy (Rhodes et al., 2016)
Advantages
Combination therapy is needed to avoid resistance development in difficult associated infections, such as tuberculosis or biofilm associated infections treated with rifampin or fosfomycin other reasons apply to certain antibiotics like macrolide, which are able to attenuate severe inflammation, or clindamycin, which is able to inhibit bacterial toxin production. In severe cases, combinations act synergistically (e.g. ampicillin plus gentamicin against enterococci) and might therefore accelerate pathogen clearance in patients with high bacterial loads. However, mostly the intention is to broaden the antimicrobial spectrum and decrease the risk of initial inappropriate treatment that is associated with increased mortality. Reduction of Dosage of each of two Addictive chemotherapeutic on Antibiotic agents may result in lowered incidence of or reduction in toxicity of each drug.
Disadvantages
1) The tendency of fixed, packaged combinations to encourage inadequate therapy.
2) The possible increase in hypersensitivity and or toxicity to or more of the agents in a combination.
CHAPTER FOUR
Discussion and Conclusion.
Antimicrobial resistance is referred to as the ability of microrganisms to grow in the presence of a drug that would normally kill them or inhibit their growth. From the review done antimicrobial resistance has occurred due to inconsistency from the prescriber or users. Incorrectly prescribed antibiotics which contribute to the promotion of resistant bacteria through indication, choice of agent, or duration of antibiotic therapy.
- Bacteria develops various mechanisms of resistance to this antibiotics through
- Drug inactivation or Modification
- Alteration of target or binding site
- Alteration of metabolic pathway
- Reduced drug accumulation
Ways of reducing the occurrence of this problem of resistance can be as follows:
The first goal is the control of hospital infection and application of guidelines to reduce spread of infection and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in the hospital environment; this can improve the frequent use of antibiotics. Patient education regarding appropriate uses of antibiotics, the perceived threat of genomic mutation, and the need to confirm the continued efficacy of important therapeutic antimicrobial agents can help individuals prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance. (Harrison, 1998).
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION
From the reviewed literatures it is possible to potentiate the effect of failing antibiotics through the combination with plant products which have antimicrobial effect and other chemical entities capable to initiating a synergistic effect when combined with the resistant antibiotics.
RECOMMENDATION
From the above occurrence of antibiotics resistance, more research as to further combinations with antibiotics which can promote the efficacy amongst resistant strands should be developed and if possible new chemical entities of antibiotic class should be developed so as to tackle the current issue of antibiotics
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