Synergistic Effects of Quercetin and Lutein in Tagetes erecta Against Antibiotic-Resistant Microorganisms

Synergistic Effects of Quercetin and Lutein in Tagetes erecta Against Antibiotic-Resistant Microorganisms

Alvin Sherman Library

The increasing global problem of antibiotic resistance has driven the need to look for innovative classes of antimicrobial agents. Phytochemicals isolated from Tagetes erecta, such as Quercetin, a flavonoid, and lutein, a carotenoid, have antimicrobial properties against bacteria through various mechanisms, such as disruption of bacterial membrane integrity, production of reactive oxygen species, and biofilm inhibition. Quercetin and lutein also improve the effectiveness of standard antibiotics, indicating their usability as adjuvants against resistant microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Despite their potential, several challenges need to be addressed, including the fluctuating yield production of phytochemicals, the insufficiency of synergistic interaction studies, and lack of standardization. Improvement in analytical and computational analysis of these compounds, in conjunction with in vivo analyses, are crucial for explaining their mechanisms of actions, optimizing formulations, and establishing therapeutic applications. The synergistic effects of compounds isolated from T. erecta may pave the way for new frontiers in combating multidrug-resistant microorganisms, a major challenge in contemporary healthcare delivery.