Algal metabolites

An inevitable substitute for antibiotics

authored by

Sukanya Bhowmick, Aninda Mazumdar, Amitava Moulick, Vojtech Adam

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is rising at a pace that is difficult to cope with; circumvention of this issue requires fast and efficient alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Algae inhabit a wide span of ecosystems, which contributes to their ability to synthesize diverse classes of highly active biogenic metabolites. Here, for the first time, we reviewed all possible algal metabolites with broad spectra antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, and categorized different metabolites of both freshwater and marine algae, linking them on the basis of their target sites and mechanistic actions along with their probable nanoconjugates. Algae can be considered a boon for novel drug discovery in the era of antibiotic resistance, as various algal primary and secondary metabolites possess potential antibacterial properties. The diversity of these metabolites from indigenous sources provides a promising gateway enabling researchers and pharmaceutical companies to develop novel nontoxic, cost-effective and highly efficient antibacterial medicines.

External Organisation(s)

Mendel University Brno
Brno University of Technology

Type

Article

Journal

Biotechnology advances

Volume

43

ISSN

0734-9750

Publication date

01.11.2020

Publication status

Published

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 15 - Life on Land

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107571 (Access: Closed)