Halophytes as Medicinal Plants against Human Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Halophytes have long been used for medicinal purposes. However, for many decades, their use was entirely empirical, with virtually no knowledge of the bioactive compounds underlying the different applications. In recent decades, the growing problem of antibiotic resistance triggered the research on alternative antimicrobial approaches, and halophytes, along with other medicinal plants, regained attention as an underexplored pharmacological vein. Furthermore, the high nutritional/nutraceutical/pharmacological value of some halophytic species may represent added value to the emerging activity of saline agriculture and targeted modification of the rhizosphere, with plant-growth-promoting bacteria being attempted to be used as a tool to modulate the plant metabolome and enhance the expression of interesting metabolites. The objective of this review is to highlight the potential of halophytes as a valuable, and still unexplored, source of antimicrobial compounds for clinical applications. For that, we provide a critical perspective on the empirical use of halophytes in traditional medicine and a state-or-the-art overview of the most relevant plant species and metabolites related with antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial activities.

Phytochemical Profiles and Biological Activities of Frankenia Species: A Review

“…To withstand such severe conditions, these plants have developed several ways to control and/or take away salt, but they also exhibit strong antioxidant systems composed of enzymes and highly bioactive secondary metabolites, such as phenolic compounds and alkaloids [ 6 ]. Probably for these reasons, halophytes are traditionally used in folk medicine for their curative properties against infectious diseases [ 7 ]. Hence, halophytes are currently gaining interest due to their nutraceutical potential, powerful antioxidant abilities and therapeutic significance in treating a variety of pathologies [ 8 ].…”

Salt-Tolerant Plants as Sources of Antiparasitic Agents for Human Use: A Comprehensive Review

“…The harsh habitats where halophytes thrive, such as salt marshes, maritime dunes, and marine cliffs, expose them to extremely variable abiotic conditions, including salinity, light intensity, drought, and temperature [ 6 , 7 ]. This stressful environment contributes to the synthesis and accumulation of bioactive metabolites, including phenolics, alkaloids, and terpenes, conferring to halophyte species important medicinal properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-tumoral, anti-infective, and antiparasitic activities [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. In fact, several halophyte species are used as medicinal (e.g., Mesembryanthemum edule L. (syn.…”

“…Some of these halophytes, such as Chenopodium album and Artemisia ramosissima have ethnomedicinal uses for parasitic diseases, including protozoal and helminthic infections [ 12 , 18 , 19 ], and several scientific reports confirmed their activities by in vitro and in vivo methods and identified their main bioactive constituents. There are several review papers detailing the biological properties of halophytic plant species [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], but information related to the properties of such plants is still dispersed in the literature. Aiming to fulfill this gap, this review provides a comprehensive outline of the ethnomedicinal uses of several species against human parasitic illnesses and the in vitro and in vivo antiprotozoal and anthelmintic properties of such plants, along with the bioactive metabolites that may be responsible for such assets.…”

Chemical Profiling, Anticholinesterase, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Potential of the Essential Oil from Myrcianthes discolor (Kunth) McVaugh, an Aromatic Tree from Southern Ecuador

“…Essential oils are a source of secondary metabolites with numerous biological molecules with antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, antioxidant, and inhibitory properties of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) [ 1 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], of great importance both in the scientific community and in the health area, as possible precursor agents of new phytopharmaceuticals for the treatment of various conditions [ 11 , 12 ]. Species of the genus Myrcianthes, belonging to the Myrtaceae family, are wild trees or shrubs, which contain essential oils in their leaves, flowers, or fruits, which have been used within a long tradition to alleviate or treat health problems, and in many other cases, to flavor or season foods and beverages [ 13 ].…”