Background: Phytol is a diterpene from the long-chain unsaturated acyclic alcohols, known for its diverse biological effects, including antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Present in essential oils, phytol is a promising candidate for various applications in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological sectors. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial and drug-potentiating effects of phytol against multidrug-resistant bacteria and to evaluate its in silico properties: ADME and molecular docking. Methods: The in vitro antibacterial activity of phytol and the phytol combined with conventional drugs was evaluated by microdilution tests against standard and resistant bacterial strains. Finally, the SwissADME platform was employed to analyse the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic characteristics of phytol. Results: Phytol significantly reduced the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of norfloxacin and gentamicin required to inhibit multidrug-resistant strains of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Additionally, ADME analysis revealed that phytol exhibits low toxicity and favourable pharmacokinetic properties; in addition, it is revealed through molecular docking that phytol showed a relevant affinity with the proteins 6GJ1 and 5KDR, however, with values lower than the drugs gentamicin and ampicillin. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings suggest that phytol holds potential as an effective adjuvant in combating antimicrobial resistance.

Species of the genus Miconia are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases, such as pain, throat infections, fever, and cold, and they used as depuratives, diuretics, and sedatives. This work reviewed studies carried out with Miconia species, highlighting its ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological and phytochemical potential. This information was collected in the main platforms of scientific research (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Our findings show that some of the traditional uses of Miconia are corroborated by biological and/or pharmacological assays, which demonstrated, among other properties, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimutagenic, antiparasitic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities. A total of 148 chemical compounds were identified in Miconia species, with phenolic compounds being the main constituents found in the species of this genus. Such phytochemical investigations have demonstrated the potential of species belonging to this genus as a source of bioactive substances, thus reinforcing their medicinal and pharmacological importance.

Varronia curassavica Jacq. is an aromatic species appertaining to the Boraginaceae family and has been mentioned for its numerous traditional uses and pharmacological properties, especially its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the phytochemical profile and antifungal activities of the essential oils of V. curassavica, in addition to analyzing the ADMET properties of the majority components. The GC-MS analysis of V. curassavica essential oil (EOVC) comprised 97.36% of total composition, with α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, and bicyclogermacrene (44.46%, 22.87%, and 13.05%, respectively) as the main constituents among other minor/trace constituents. The antifungal activity of EOVC was evaluated against three Candida species and was observed with IC₅₀ > 200 μg/mL. Remarkably, the combination of EOVC with fluconazole significantly reduced the IC₅₀ required for the drug to inhibit C. tropicalis (0.003 μg/mL), C. albicans (0.7996 μg/mL), and C. krusei (17.73 μg/mL). In addition, ADME/Tox studies using α-pinene revealed that the compound poses no toxicity threats but requires caution due to its high permeability to the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Overall, the obtained results suggest that Varronia curassavica essential oil is a potentially good antifungal agent for combating fungal resistance.

Biofilms, formed by microbial communities that increase resistance to antibiotics, are responsible for chronic infections, making their combat a therapeutic priority. Taking this into account, the fruit Caryocar coriaceum stands out for its potential in the treatment of infectious diseases. The different parts of this plant can be used, and the fixed oil extracted from its fruit, rich in fatty acids, is indicated as responsible for its biological activities. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of the fixed oil extracted from the fruits of C. coriaceum (FOCC), in addition to analyzing its action in the inhibition and pre-formed biofilm disruption of bacteria. The fixed oil was extracted from the internal mesocarp through exhaustive extraction with n-hexane, resulting in a yield of 38.29%. For antibiofilm evaluation, multidrug-resistant bacterial strains were exposed to the oil, and the antibiofilm activity was verified through biofilm formation and pre-formed biofilm disruption assays. The chemical analysis of the fixed oil of C. coriaceum (FOCC) identified eight fatty acids, representing 98.2% of the total composition, with a predominance of oleic acid (60.1%) and palmitic acid (33.5%). FOCC demonstrated approximately 70% inhibition of Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation at a concentration of 10 mg/mL and approximately 60% inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In pre-formed biofilm disruption, FOCC showed low efficacy against S. mutans and P. aeruginosa but showed greater activity against Enterococcus faecalis and S. aureus. These results indicate that FOCC has the potential to prevent biofilms, but its pre-formed biofilm disruption capacity is still limited.

As microbes develop resistance to various drugs, the treatment of infections becomes increasingly challenging, leading to prolonged illness, heightened severity of infections, elevated mortality rates, and increased healthcare costs. Essential oils are lipophilic and volatile mixtures of compounds that have gained attention in research for novel antimicrobial agents. Therefore, the present study evaluated the essential oil of Syzygium cumini leaves (EOSC) in order to prospect its antifungal and trichomonacidal activities. The essential oil from the leaves was extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by GC-MS. Antifungal activity was evaluated using the serial microdilution method. Additionally, the potential of the EOSC as an enhancer of fluconazole (FCZ) action was tested at subinhibitory concentrations. To assess anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity, concentrations ranging from 15.6 to 500 μg/mL of EOSC were tested. Finally, the SwissADME platform was employed to analyze the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic characteristics of the major component of EOSC. The GC-MS analysis identified 94.24% of the components of EOSC, with α-pinene (51.11%) and nerol (8.25%) as major constituents. EOSC exhibited low antifungal activity against the evaluated Candida strains. However, the combination of EOSC and FCZ reduced the IC₅₀ against Candida krusei from 45.29 to 0.30 μg/mL. EOSC also demonstrated significant activity against T. vaginalis (IC₅₀ = 88.2 μg/mL). In silico prediction with α-pinene showed low toxic action and important physicochemical aspects for drug production. The essential oil of Syzygium cumini emerges as a promising candidate for the discovery of molecules with potential antifungal and anti-Trichomonas vaginalis applications.

Multidrug-resistant bacteria have complicated the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases; their microbial resistance stems from the indiscriminate use of medications and the transfer of resistance genes. Varronia curassavica Jacq., a plant traditionally used to treat rheumatic and gastrointestinal diseases in underserved populations, has sparked interest as a potential source of antimicrobial compounds. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and antibacterial effects of V. curassavica essential oil and to evaluate its toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. The essential oil was extracted through hydrodistillation and its chemical composition was determined using GC-MS. Antibacterial tests were performed with microdilution. The results showed the presence of major compounds including α-pinene and β-caryophyllene. The essential oil did not show relevant MIC, but it enhanced the effects of the antibiotics, gentamicin, norfloxacin, and oxacillin. It exhibited no toxicity and did not affect geotaxis, even at high concentrations. The in silico analysis of α-pinene revealed low toxicity; however, its permeability to the BBB shows that caution is needed in its application. These results indicate that the essential oil of V. curassavica shows promising potential in enhancing pharmaceuticals to prevent increased bacterial resistance. In addition, it demonstrated safe aspects when tested on D. melanogaster.