Antimicrobial properties of Sonchus species: A review

Abstract

As a rich source of bioactive compounds, plant-derived natural products hold immense promise for pharmaceutical research and development, offering a path to discovering new drug targets and innovative treatments. Sonchus species, commonly known as sow thistles, are widely distributed across various geographical regions. Several common species within this plant group have a long history of use in traditional medicine, which can be attributed to their diverse therapeutic benefits. Recently, these plants have gained attention for their potential in antimicrobial therapy, owing to their rich phytochemical profile, including sesquiterpene, flavonoids, and phenolic acids with known antimicrobial activities. Currently, available pharmacological studies demonstrate that Sonchus species extracts possess antimicrobial properties, highlighting their potential as sources for new therapeutic agents. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on the antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral activities of the Sonchus species, along with its possible mechanisms of action. The review aims to provide directions for future research and promote the exploration of these plants as viable sources of natural antimicrobial agents, potentially contributing to the development of alternative therapeutic strategies in the face of rising antibiotic resistance.

Keywords

Sonchus / Antimicrobial / Antibacterial / Antiviral / Antifungal / Antiparasitic

Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude to the One Joint Research Scheme Program 2023 (Project ST039-2023) awarded to Dr. Chin Kim Ling that made this study possible by support received in parts.

Funding

The article was supported by One Joint Research Scheme Program 2023 (Project ST039-2023).

Data availability statement

The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors upon request.

Authors’ contributions

NNZ and KLC conceptualized the review, designed the structural and intellectual content and drafted the original manuscript. KLC and DKW, as the corresponding authors, supervised the overall organization of the work. Meanwhile, NZ SM and KDR revised and refined the manuscript.

Publisher’s note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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