Antibacterial Activities of Medicinal Plants (marshmallow)
Antibacterial Activities of Medicinal Plants (marshmallow)
Ronak Bahramian,1Rasoul Shokri,2,*Mojtaba Mohammadi Roknabadi,3
2. Assistant Professor,Biology Research Center, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran 3. Assistant professor of mycology Department of biology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran,
Introduction: Today, the use of herbal medicine is expanding, and plant therapy has moved up the scientific study agenda in the majority of nations. Higher plants' potential as a source of novel pharmaceuticals is yet mostly untapped. Only a small portion of the estimated 250 000– 500,000 plant species have undergone phytochemical investigation, and even fewer have been subjected to biological or pharmacological screening. Antimicrobial agents are abundant in medicinal plants. Different nations employ plants as medicines, and they are the source of potential and potent pharmaceuticals. This study's goal was to look into the antimicrobial properties of medicinal plants.
Methods: The following subjects were covered in the articles we selected: research that looked at elements that affect the antibacterial mechanisms of medicinal plants (marshmallow), papers exploring the advantages and uses of medicinal plants in the fight against bacteria, and articles looking at the antibacterial mechanisms of medicinal plants on bacteria. For research on the antibacterial properties of medicinal plants, we consulted the databases PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar.
Results: Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) is a medicinal plant, and many nations throughout the world employ its roots, leaves, and flowers in traditional medicine. Peptins, starch, mono- and disaccharides, mucilage, flavonoids, antioxidants, coumarins, scopoletin, tannin, asparagines, and several amino acids are all present in this herb. In addition to having antibacterial (both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria), antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-mycobacterial, and anti-cough properties, the extracts made from marshmallow's roots and flowers also have antiviral, anti-yeast, anti-complement, and free radical scavenging activities. Without having any negative effects on the users, the aqueous extract of marshmallow is also useful in reducing hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and gastrointestinal ulcers as well as in preventing platelet adhesion.Through the inhibition of cytokinin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor synthesis and release, this plant can also reduce inflammation. The main immunomodulatory effects of the marshmallow root extract are the increases in phagocytic and macrophage activities16 and the number of T lymphocytes. Because of this, using marshmallow instead of other remedies for bacterial, viral, and fungal infections would be a smart idea.
Conclusion: Plants have always been a great source of novel medicinal molecules throughout history. Motaharinia and colleagues demonstrated in a study from 1390 that marshmallow extract has more antifungal properties than marshmallow root. Additionally, they claimed that among these extracts, ketoconazole had the strongest antifungal activity on Malassezia furfur. Previous research indicated that marshmallow extract had antibacterial effects on a variety of microorganisms, including fungus. Some plants' antibacterial abilities are still unknown.
As a result, learning more about the antimicrobial qualities of endemic plants, in particular, can help us understand how these plants affect the development of significant bacterial diseases. The health of living things is currently seriously threatened by antibiotic resistance. It is essential to look for affordable anti-microbial materials that are also effective. As a result, medicinal plants can serve as an effective alternative to chemicals.