A Review of the Antibacterial Properties and Phytochemistry of Selected Ayurvedic Plants against Gastrointestinal Bacterial Pathogens

Gagan Tiwana¹, Matthew James Cheesman¹, Ian Edwin Cock^2,3,*

¹School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Gold Coast, AUSTRALIA.

²School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA.

³Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA.

DOI: 10.5530/pc.2025.3.15

ABSTRACT

Background: Traditional Ayurvedic medicine offers a promising and largely untapped resource for the development of novel antibacterial therapies, especially in the context of gastrointestinal (GI) infections, which are increasingly complicated by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). These plants are rich in secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and terpenoids, many of which have demonstrated significant bioactivity against a range of pathogens. Objectives: This review highlights the antibacterial, antioxidant, and phytochemical properties of medicinal plants traditionally used in Ayurveda for managing GI infections and diarrhoeal diseases. Materials and Methods: A thorough literature review was using Science Direct, Google Scholar and Scopus search engines were used as sources of information. Results: Despite growing interest, most existing studies have evaluated either the antibacterial efficacy or the phytochemical composition of these botanicals in isolation, limiting our understanding of the link between specific compounds and therapeutic action. Furthermore, studies typically involve a narrow spectrum of test organisms, often limited to non-resistant laboratory strains, which do not reflect current clinical challenges posed by drug-resistant pathogens. Importantly, while Ayurvedic medicine commonly employs polyherbal formulations, research rarely investigates such combinations for potential synergistic or additive effects. In addition, toxicity assessments are rarely included, leaving safety profiles of many promising extracts unverified. Conclusion: To bridge these gaps, future research should aim to integrate phytochemical profiling with antibacterial assays, employ a broader panel of clinically relevant pathogens, including resistant strains, and systematically assess both polyherbal combinations and toxicity profiles. This comprehensive approach would enhance scientific validation of Ayurvedic botanicals and support their development into effective, evidence-based therapies for GI infections.

Keywords: Ayurvedic plants, Traditional medicine, Bacterial infections, Antibiotic resistant
bacteria, Polyherbal formulations, Flavonoids, Tannins, Phytochemicals.