Antimicrobial betalains.

Abstract

Betalains are nitrogen-containing plant pigments that can be red-violet (betacyanins) or yellow-orange (betaxanthins), currently employed as natural colourants in the food and cosmetic sectors. Betalains exhibit antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microbes including multidrug-resistant bacteria, as well as single-species and dual-species biofilm-producing bacteria, which is highly significant given the current antimicrobial resistance issue reported by The World Health Organization. Research demonstrating antiviral activity against dengue virus, in silico studies including SARS-CoV-2, and anti-fungal effects of betalains highlight the diversity of their antimicrobial properties. Though limited in vivo studies have been conducted, antimalarial and anti-infective activities of betacyanin have been observed in living infection models. Cellular mechanisms of antimicrobial activity of betalains are yet unknown; however existing research has laid the framework for a potentially novel antimicrobial agent. This review covers an overview of betalains as antimicrobial agents and discussions to fully exploit their potential as therapeutic agents to treat infectious diseases.

• Authors: Vindya Nilakshi Wijesinghe, Wee Sim Choo
• Journal: Journal of applied microbiology (J Appl Microbiol) Vol. 133 Issue 6 Pg. 3347-3367 (Dec 2022) ISSN: 1365-2672 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 36036373 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Applied Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society for Applied Microbiology.

Chemical References

• Betalains
• Betacyanins
• Anti-Infective Agents

Topics

• Humans
• Betalains (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• SARS-CoV-2
• Betacyanins
• Anti-Infective Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• COVID-19 Drug Treatment