TABLE 2.
Major classes of antimicrobial compounds from plants
| Class | Subclass | Example(s) | Mechanism | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phenolics | Simple phenols | Catechol | Substrate deprivation | 174 |
| Epicatechin | Membrane disruption | 226 | ||
| Phenolic acids | Cinnamic acid | 66 | ||
| Quinones | Hypericin | Bind to adhesins, complex with cell wall, inactivate enzymes | 58, 114 | |
| Flavonoids | Chrysin | Bind to adhesins | 175, 182 | |
| Flavones | Complex with cell wall | |||
| Abyssinone | Inactivate enzymes | 32, 219 | ||
| Inhibit HIV reverse transcriptase | 164 | |||
| Flavonols | Totarol | ? | 122 | |
| Tannins | Ellagitannin | Bind to proteins | 196, 210 | |
| Bind to adhesins | 192 | |||
| Enzyme inhibition | 87, 33, 35 | |||
| Substrate deprivation | ||||
| Complex with cell wall | ||||
| Membrane disruption | ||||
| Metal ion complexation | ||||
| Coumarins | Warfarin | Interaction with eucaryotic DNA (antiviral activity) | 26, 95, 113, 251 | |
| Terpenoids, essential oils | Capsaicin | Membrane disruption | 42 | |
| Alkaloids | Berberine | Intercalate into cell wall and/or DNA | 15, 34, 73, 94 | |
| Piperine | ||||
| Lectins and polypeptides | Mannose-specific agglutinin | Block viral fusion or adsorption | 145, 253 | |
| Fabatin | Form disulfide bridges | |||
| Polyacetylenes | 8S-Heptadeca-2(Z),9(Z)-diene-4,6-diyne-1,8-diol | ? | 62 |