Exploring the scope of traditional Chinese medicinal plants in battle of antibiotic resistance – A comprehensive review

Introduction: The critical issue of antimicrobial resistance within healthcare settings arises primarily from the widespread use of antibiotics. This issue underscores the global concern of bacterial resistance to multiple drugs and emphasizes the growing interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a potential alternative. Notably, TCM has been reported to exhibit pathogen suppression and bactericidal capabilities while demonstrating minimal therapeutic resistance. Methodology: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Over 250 articles published since 2010 were initially identified, from which 230 were shortlisted based on their relevance to keywords such as “Traditional Chinese Medicine,” “Bioactive Compounds,” “Conventional Antibiotics,” “Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria,” “Resistance Mechanisms,” and “synergistic effects” The selected 205 articles were thoroughly analyzed to compile the most recent and significant developments included in this review. All chemical structures and mechanisms were prepared using ChemDraw software, following guidelines and structural data from the PubChem database. Results: TCM contains active components like flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, and polysaccharide quinones that can impede the growth of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Studies have examined the increasing threat and global impact of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, causes, and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. Researches have investigated the suppressive properties of TCM plants and their bioactive substances on pathogens. Combinatorial effect of TCM plants with conventional antibiotics has garnered attention for its potential to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness against drug-resistant bacterial strains. Preclinical results demonstrate the efficacy of TCM herbs and their phytochemical compounds against antibiotic-resistant bacteria in mice. The review identified ongoing challenges in the development of TCM. Discussion: This review concludes by discussing the implications of the findings. It suggests that TCM plants and their bioactive phytoconstituents show promising results in addressing conventional antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. The discussion also highlights the potential for developing innovative treatment approaches to overcome resistance using TCM. This indicates a positive outlook for using TCM in combating antimicrobial resistance while acknowledging the need for further research and development in this area.