A Review on Efflux Pump Inhibitors of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria from Plant Sources

Resistance of bacteria to most of the classes of antibiotics is a big problem now days. The component responsible for resistance in both the gram positive and gram negative bacteria are classified as multidrug resistant efflux pumps. In recent years a huge number of efflux pumps are identified in both gram- positive and gram- negative bacteria and these efflux pumps are responsible for the intrinsic resistance of bacteria to most of the antibiotics. Efflux pump inhibitors are the compounds which inhibit the activity of efflux pumps and they have the potential to restore the activity of standard antibiotics. In recent years, there are many classes of efflux pump inhibitors has been reported. Some of these efflux pump inhibitors are synthetic while some of them are natural inhibitors. Efflux pump inhibitors derived from chemical sources have drawbacks as they shows toxic effect at high concentrations in which they can be used. Some plants show potential EPI activity along with some antibiotics and shows effect on many efflux pumps. This review focuses on the use of efflux pump inhibitors from natural sources for blocking the activity of efflux pumps in case of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.