An alternative approach to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria: new insights into traditional Chinese medicine monomers combined with antibiotics

Abstract

Antibiotic treatment is crucial for controlling bacterial infections, but it is greatly hindered by the global prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Although traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers have shown high efficacy against MDR infections, the inactivation of bacteria induced by TCM is often incomplete and leads to infection relapse. The synergistic combination of TCM and antibiotics emerges as a promising strategy to mitigate the limitations inherent in both treatment modalities when independently administered. This review begins with a succinct exploration of the molecular mechanisms such as the antibiotic resistance, which informs the antibiotic discovery efforts. We subsequently provide an overview of the therapeutic effects of TCM/antibiotic combinations that have been developed. Finally, the factors that affect the therapeutic outcomes of these combinations and their underlying molecular mechanisms are systematically summarized. This overview offers insights into alternative strategies to treat clinical infections associated with MDR bacteria and the development of novel TCM/antibiotic combination therapies, with the goal of guiding their appropriate usage and further development.

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