Inhibiting Microbial Toxins Using Plant-Derived Compounds and Plant Extracts

Abhinav Upadhyay; Shankumar Mooyottu; Hsinbai Yin; Meera Surendran Nair; Varunkumar Bhattaram; Kumar Venkitanarayanan

doi:10.3390/medicines2030186

Inhibiting Microbial Toxins Using Plant-Derived Compounds and Plant Extracts

Medicines (Basel). 2015 Jul 31;2(3):186-211. doi: 10.3390/medicines2030186.

Authors

Abhinav Upadhyay¹, Shankumar Mooyottu², Hsinbai Yin³, Meera Surendran Nair⁴, Varunkumar Bhattaram⁵, Kumar Venkitanarayanan⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. abhinav.vet@gmail.com.
² Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. Shankumar.mooyottu@uconn.edu.
³ Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. Hsin-bai.yin@uconn.edu.
⁴ Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. meera.nair@uconn.edu.
⁵ Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. varunkumar.bhattaram@uconn.edu.
⁶ Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. kumar.venkitanarayanan@uconn.edu.

Abstract

Many pathogenic bacteria and fungi produce potentially lethal toxins that cause cytotoxicity or impaired cellular function either at the site of colonization or other locations in the body through receptor-mediated interactions. Various factors, including biotic and abiotic environments, competing microbes, and chemical cues affect toxin expression in these pathogens. Recent work suggests that several natural compounds can modulate toxin production in pathogenic microbes. However, studies explaining the mechanistic basis for their effect are scanty. This review discusses the potential of various plant-derived compounds for reducing toxin production in foodborne and other microbes. In addition, studies highlighting their anti-toxigenic mechanism(s) are discussed.

Keywords: anti-virulence strategies; bacterial toxins; mycotoxins; plant extracts; plant-derived compounds; toxin inhibition.

Publication types

Review