Harnessing Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids as Weapons against Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a formidable challenge in global healthcare, driving the exploration of natural products for novel antimicrobials. Among these, essential oils (EOs) derived from medicinal plants are rich sources of diverse bioactive compounds. Monoterpenes and monoterpenoids, cr...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Polish Journal of Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2025-010 |
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| author | Kong Amanda Shen-Yee Lim Swee-Hua Erin Cheng Wan-Hee Yuswan Mohd Hafis Tan Ngai-Paing Lai Kok-Song |
| author_facet | Kong Amanda Shen-Yee Lim Swee-Hua Erin Cheng Wan-Hee Yuswan Mohd Hafis Tan Ngai-Paing Lai Kok-Song |
| author_sort | Kong Amanda Shen-Yee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a formidable challenge in global healthcare, driving the exploration of natural products for novel antimicrobials. Among these, essential oils (EOs) derived from medicinal plants are rich sources of diverse bioactive compounds. Monoterpenes and monoterpenoids, critical constituents of EOs, have emerged as promising agents in combating multidrugresistant (MDR) pathogens. This review analyzed recent literature on the efficacy of monoterpenes against AMR, highlighting their broad-spectrum activity and potential as alternative therapeutic options for MDR infections. Mechanistic insights reveal their ability to disrupt cell membranes, inhibit biofilm formation, and modulate gene expression linked to virulence and resistance, thereby reducing microbial viability through alterations in membrane potential, enzymatic activity, and genetic regulation. Synergistic interactions between monoterpenes and conventional antibiotics are also elucidated. Innovative approaches in monoterpene research are explored, although challenges such as resistance, limited solubility, volatility, and potential toxicity are acknowledged, emphasizing the need for advanced formulation strategies and interdisciplinary research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8f5ad25c6db7463d99b8384463b96901 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2544-4646 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polish Journal of Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f5ad25c6db7463d99b8384463b969012025-08-20T03:41:04ZengSciendoPolish Journal of Microbiology2544-46462025-03-0174111810.33073/pjm-2025-010Harnessing Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids as Weapons against Antimicrobial ResistanceKong Amanda Shen-Yee0Lim Swee-Hua Erin1Cheng Wan-Hee2Yuswan Mohd Hafis3Tan Ngai-Paing4Lai Kok-Song5School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya, MalaysiaHealth Sciences Division, Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesFaculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, MalaysiaHalal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, UPM Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaHealth Sciences Division, Abu Dhabi Women’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a formidable challenge in global healthcare, driving the exploration of natural products for novel antimicrobials. Among these, essential oils (EOs) derived from medicinal plants are rich sources of diverse bioactive compounds. Monoterpenes and monoterpenoids, critical constituents of EOs, have emerged as promising agents in combating multidrugresistant (MDR) pathogens. This review analyzed recent literature on the efficacy of monoterpenes against AMR, highlighting their broad-spectrum activity and potential as alternative therapeutic options for MDR infections. Mechanistic insights reveal their ability to disrupt cell membranes, inhibit biofilm formation, and modulate gene expression linked to virulence and resistance, thereby reducing microbial viability through alterations in membrane potential, enzymatic activity, and genetic regulation. Synergistic interactions between monoterpenes and conventional antibiotics are also elucidated. Innovative approaches in monoterpene research are explored, although challenges such as resistance, limited solubility, volatility, and potential toxicity are acknowledged, emphasizing the need for advanced formulation strategies and interdisciplinary research.https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2025-010antimicrobial resistancemonoterpenesessential oilsmultidrug resistance |
| spellingShingle | Kong Amanda Shen-Yee Lim Swee-Hua Erin Cheng Wan-Hee Yuswan Mohd Hafis Tan Ngai-Paing Lai Kok-Song Harnessing Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids as Weapons against Antimicrobial Resistance Polish Journal of Microbiology antimicrobial resistance monoterpenes essential oils multidrug resistance |
| title | Harnessing Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids as Weapons against Antimicrobial Resistance |
| title_full | Harnessing Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids as Weapons against Antimicrobial Resistance |
| title_fullStr | Harnessing Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids as Weapons against Antimicrobial Resistance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Harnessing Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids as Weapons against Antimicrobial Resistance |
| title_short | Harnessing Monoterpenes and Monoterpenoids as Weapons against Antimicrobial Resistance |
| title_sort | harnessing monoterpenes and monoterpenoids as weapons against antimicrobial resistance |
| topic | antimicrobial resistance monoterpenes essential oils multidrug resistance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.33073/pjm-2025-010 |
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