Abstract

HERBAL THERAPEUTICS AGAINST ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT STRAINS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Nishu Chaudhary*, Shifa Ansari, Raisa Rishu, Vinod Kumar Gupta

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Abstract

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, especially methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and vancomycinresistant (VRSA) strains, has become a serious global health concern. Standard antimicrobial treatments are losing effectiveness due to resistance strategies such as biofilm development, activation of efflux pumps, and enzymatic modification of antibiotics. As a result, herbalbased therapeutics are being widely investigated as complementary or alternative approaches to combat S. aureus. Medicinal plants provide a rich array of bioactive molecules, including flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, and essential oils, demonstrating strong antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties. Compounds obtained from Curcuma longa (curcumin), Azadirachta indica (neem), Allium sativum (garlic), and Ocimum sanctum (tulsi) have shown promising activity against resistant S. aureus isolates by disrupting bacterial cell walls, interfering with quorum sensing, and enhancing the efficacy of conventional antibiotics. Importantly, herbal agents are often associated with lower toxicity and a reduced tendency for resistance development compared with synthetic drugs. Nonetheless, limitations such as inconsistency in phytochemical content, insufficient clinical validation, and regulatory challenges hinder their clinical adoption.

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