Natural compounds with dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects

Increasing antimicrobial resistance, together with the occurrence of side effects of NSAIDs or glucocorticoids represents certain motivation to search for new natural dual antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs. We here present selected natural compounds, possessing both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. The review contains also the information about structure–activity relationships with respect to natural or semisynthetic origin of compounds and synergy effects between natural dual inhibitors and commercially available antibiotics. Data published from 2000 to 2018 were obtained using databases Google Scholar, Science Direct and Web of Science, and searching keywords such as alkaloids , anti - inflammatory activity , antimicrobial activity , chalcones , coumarins , flavonoids , IC 50 , lignans , MIC , natural compounds , synergistic effect and terpenoids , alone or in a combination. The primary criteria for the selection of appropriate compounds were the MICs and IC 50 s used for a quantification of effects. The natural compounds with activity close to the reference substances or showing MIC up to 32 µg ml −1 , and IC 50 of anti-inflammatory effect up to 15 µM were considered as promising. When available, information about in vivo testing was included. Reviewed dual inhibitors can represent modern therapeutic approach, especially when the process of inflammation is followed by a secondary bacterial infection. Benefits of dual inhibitors are based on better compliance of patients, decreased number of side effects and extended spectrum of action. Graphic abstract