Zoonotic Diseases and Phytochemical Medicines for Microbial Infections in Veterinary Science: Current State and Future Perspective

Shin, Bora; Park, Woojun

Phytochemicals, which are bioactive plant components with an amphipathic or hydrophobic structure, are known to exhibit pharmacological effects on interaction with microbial membranes, such as changes in membrane permeability and microviscosity (37) . Several phytochemicals have been reported to have antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects as well as antimicrobial (microbial growth-inhibiting, antibacterial, and antifungal) activities (45, 48, 54) . The molecular mechanism of action of plant compounds has been conventionally interpreted or theorized based on their effects on receptors, enzymes, ion channels, transporters, and biological pathways (44, 58, 59) . However, plant compounds are responsible for a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities, thereby making it difficult to explain a single action on a particular target (37, 51) . Typically, terpenoids and phenolic compounds are the most commonly known antimicrobial plant components (51) .