Interest in the application of compounds of natural origin in infectious disease control has grown strongly in recent times, especially at a time when the problem of microbial resistance to antibiotics seems to be close to reaching an apogee. This problem carries a high mortality rate, mainly among hospitalized patients. There is a huge risk of transmission of these strains outside the hospital environment, where they will be responsible for most out-of-hospital infections. Natural compounds seem to be the future. Their appropriate use can support antibiotic therapy. Therefore, all combinations of various natural compounds with each other and with antibiotics are the future in the fight against increasing resistance. In addition, compounds with well-documented antimicrobial activity (e.g., antimicrobial peptides or chemically modified naturally occurring products) against life-threatening strains also hold promise as a product that could act as an antibiotic in the future.

Other examples of natural compounds include essential oils (e.g., tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, oregano oil), alkaloids (e.g., berberine, quinine), flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, catechins), and polysaccharides (e.g., chitosan, beta-glucans).

The pros of natural compounds can be broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, strong bioactivities, low potential for resistance development, biocompatibility, and immune-modulating properties. However, they pose challenges such as potential skin irritation, stability issues, side effects, limited solubility, low bioavailability, and variable efficacy based on source and extraction method.

In our Research Topic, we will be interested in manuscripts broadly addressing the topic of natural compounds in the context of infectious disease control.

In addition, manuscripts addressing (but not limited to) the following sub themes are encouraged.
• The challenges and success stories of natural compounds in managing Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) infections
• Effect of natural compounds on the resistance of microorganisms both bacterial and fungal strains (reduction of the resistance threshold or its complete elimination)
• Mechanisms of action and activity of natural compounds and their antimicrobial effects against microbial pathogens i.e. biological, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and others
• Bioavailability and Delivery Systems of natural compounds: their absorption and the use of various carriers, such as nanoparticles, that facilitate the delivery of the natural compound to the site of infection
• Synergistic effects of combining natural compounds with antibiotics and potential enhancement of antibiotic efficacy
• Novel methods for optimizing the extraction, formulation, and stability of bioactive natural compounds
• Potential side effects, toxicity, and safe usage guidelines of natural compounds

We welcome submission of original research, reviews, and mini reviews.

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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

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