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Related Concept Videos

Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones01:17

Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones

In the presence of oxidizing agents, phenols are oxidized to quinones. Quinones can be easily reduced back to phenols using mild reducing agents. The electron-donating hydroxyl group enhances the reactivity of the aromatic ring, enabling oxidation of the ring even in the absence of an α hydrogen.
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
Chemical Agents for Microbial Control01:27

Chemical Agents for Microbial Control

Chemicals play important roles in controlling microbial growth by targeting microbial structures and functions as sanitizers, antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilants.Alcohols are commonly used sanitizers, effectively disrupting lipid membranes, which compromises cell integrity. They are also used as antiseptics and disinfectants due to their rapid action and versatility.Phenols and their derivatives phenolics , known for denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membranes, are particularly...
Physical Properties of Alcohols and Phenols02:32

Physical Properties of Alcohols and Phenols

Alcohols are organic compounds in which a hydroxy group is attached to a saturated carbon. Phenols are a class of alcohols containing a hydroxy group attached to an aromatic ring. The physical properties of the alcohols and phenols are influenced by hydrogen bonding due to the oxygen–hydrogen dipole in the hydroxy functional group and dispersion forces between alkyl or aryl regions of alcohol and phenol molecules.
Alcohols possess a higher boiling point than aliphatic hydrocarbons of similar...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...

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Updated: May 29, 2026

Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidants for Cosmetic Applications Using Polyol-Based Technology
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Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidants for Cosmetic Applications Using Polyol-Based Technology

Published on: August 23, 2024

Polyphenols as antimicrobial agents.

Maria Daglia1

  • 1Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy. maria.daglia@unipv.it

Current Opinion in Biotechnology
|September 20, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Polyphenols from plants show promising antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal activities. They also enhance conventional antibiotics against drug-resistant microbes, offering new therapeutic strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Plant biochemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Polyphenols are plant-derived compounds with diverse physiological roles and health benefits.
  • These compounds exhibit antioxidant, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antihypertensive, and antimicrobial properties.
  • Microbial resistance to antibiotics is a growing global health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities of major polyphenol classes.
  • To explore the mechanisms of action and structure-activity relationships of these polyphenols.
  • To discuss the synergistic effects of polyphenols with conventional antimicrobials against multidrug-resistant organisms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific studies on polyphenol activities.

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Extraction and Purification of Polyphenols from Freeze-dried Berry Powder for the Treatment of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells In Vitro

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Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidants for Cosmetic Applications Using Polyol-Based Technology
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Extraction and Purification of Polyphenols from Freeze-dried Berry Powder for the Treatment of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells In Vitro
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Extraction and Purification of Polyphenols from Freeze-dried Berry Powder for the Treatment of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells In Vitro

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  • Analysis of reported mechanisms of action for various polyphenol classes.
  • Evaluation of studies investigating polyphenol synergy with antibiotics.

    • Main Results:

    • Key polyphenol classes demonstrate significant antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties.
    • Specific mechanisms of action and structure-activity relationships have been elucidated for some polyphenols.
    • Polyphenols show synergistic effects when combined with conventional antimicrobial agents.

    Conclusions:

    • Polyphenols represent a valuable resource for developing new antimicrobial agents.
    • Their combination with existing antibiotics can combat multidrug-resistant microbial infections.
    • Further research into polyphenols is crucial for novel therapeutic strategies.