Alternative to Antibiotics from Herbal Origin – Outline of a Comprehensive Research Project

Background: The presently practiced procedure of development of new antimicrobial substances to control infection of the pathogenic microbes is now at a point of challenge and threat for losing relevancy in near future. Objective: Exploration of an herbal source for searching alternative to the antibacterial substances. Method: Through a thorough literature survey, a list of 1060 plants with reported use among various communities throughout the globe in the purposes related to combating and controlling different types of infection has been identified. An outline of research on the plants for validation of the traditional claims by conventional antimicrobial, antioxidant and immunostimulant activity study and identification of phytochemicals is added. Limitation of the contemporary systems is discussed with a proposal of addition of fresh extract of succulent plant parts of listed medicinal plants along with conventional solvent extracted portion of dry plant parts as another parameter of study. Result: A comprehensive research proposal for a study on the medicinal plants which may act in some way as an alternative to the present system of use of synthetic antimicrobial substances to control diseases of infective origin with a detailed guideline for production, storage and global transport of succulent bio-medicines is discussed. Conclusion: Following the way of proposed thorough research, a new type of herbal medicine based treatment system may be started and an opportunity for the establishment of export-oriented agro - medicine industries may be created.