Myrtaceae family: an update on plant-derived bioactive compounds against bacteria that affect the respiratory system

Abstract

Respiratory bacterial infections are a cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide; most of these infections respond well to antibiotic therapies, although several factors cause bacteria to become increasingly resistant, leading to a concerning public health problem. Hence, researchers have sought new antibiotics that can replace or enhance the effectiveness of existing drugs. Given this scenario, this review is based on original articles from the PubMed and Science Direct databases published from May 2015 to February 2022 that reported the potential of essential oils, extracts, and formulations containing Myrtaceae and nanoparticles against bacteria that affect the respiratory system.

Key words
antibacterial; Myrtaceae; phytochemistry; respiratory infection; therapy