This
study highlights the significance of drug resistance towards difficulties in
the treatment of infectious diseases, the essence of bioactive compounds in therapeutic
intervention, and the unique approach employed by bioactive compounds away from
conventional synthetic drugs. Literature was gathered from different online databases
to retrieve the required information. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a major
concern that threatens clinical efforts in treating bacterial infections. This
has grossly reduced clinical success on previously curable infections and/or
sometimes results in a prolonged hospital stay. Antibiotics provide protection
and remedy against infectious diseases. But the emergence of multi-drug
resistance strains has inflicted untold loss of effectiveness on virtually
every conventional antibiotic. Hence, scientific communities are propelled into
seeking alternative therapies in a bid to mitigate the overwhelming consequence
on public health. Bioactive molecules are important sources of newly derived
therapeutic agents. They have minimal likelihood of inducing unintended immune
reactions, reduced level of toxicity; are structurally diverse in nature,
exhibit broad-spectrum therapeutic effects. Bioactive molecules are commonly present
in small amounts in plant-based foods; and provide health benefits in addition to
the basic nutritional values expected in foods. Several plant-based bioactive principles
serve as inhibitors for drug resistance in order to enhance the effective delivery
of the antibacterial compounds. Meat products are a good source of non-plant bioactive
molecules, which are expressed in the form of peptides, vitamins, minerals and
fatty acids. Other important sources include endophytic bacteria, endophytic
fungi, probiotic bacteria, actinomycetes and marine organisms. Natural products
are relatively safe when compared to their synthetic counterparts. As newly
manufactured potent antibiotics become increasingly unavailable and/or
unaffordable, bioactive compounds present viable alternatives. They are readily
available and are derived from inexpensive raw materials via cheap
technology.
Keywords: Alkaloids, Antimicrobials, Bacteriocins, Natural products, Phenols, Super burgs.
