Polyphenolic Compounds in Combatting MDR Pathogens: Current Research and Future Directions

Multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens, spanning bacteria, fungi, and parasites represent one of the most urgent challenges in infectious disease pharmacology today. As resistance mechanisms evolve through genetic mutation and physiological adaptation, conventional antimicrobial drugs are losing clinical efficacy, narrowing the treatment options available to physicians worldwide.Natural polyphenolic compounds are emerging as candidate anti-infective agents, but their path to clinical relevance depends on rigorous pharmacological characterization: how they act on resistant pathogens at a molecular level, how they behave pharmacokinetically in a host, and whether they can be formulated into viable therapeutics. This Research Topic invites in vitro and in vivo studies that treat polyphenols as drug candidates evaluating their mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) profile, synergistic potential with existing antimicrobials, and translational path toward clinical use against MDR infections.We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives on:• Anti-Infective Efficacy: Evaluation of polyphenolic compounds as therapeutic agents against MDR bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections.• Mechanisms of Action: Molecular and cellular pathways by which polyphenols disrupt resistance mechanisms or restore pathogen susceptibility.• Drug Synergy: Combination studies of polyphenols with existing antimicrobials to assess synergistic or potentiating effects against MDR strains.• Pharmacokinetics & Pharmacodynamics: Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and dose-response profiles of polyphenols in infection models.• Therapeutic Formulation: Delivery strategies (e.g., nanoencapsulation of the active compound itself, not metal-based synthesis) designed to improve bioavailability, stability, and clinical applicability.To remain within the scope of infectious disease pharmacology, this Research Topic will not consider:• Studies focused on the synthesis or characterization of metal nanoparticles as the primary subject (rather than as a delivery vehicle for a defined polyphenol).• Crude or uncharacterized herbal/plant extracts tested for general or non-specific biological activity without an identified active compound, defined mechanism, or pharmacological endpoint.• Purely agronomic, phytochemical-profiling, or botanical-survey studies with no infection-treatment or pharmacological framing. Topic editors: Annadurai Vinothkanna, Durairaj Karthick Rajan, SATHISHKUMAR GNANASEKAR, Ganesan Saibaba Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/68041/polyphenolic-compounds-in-combatting-mdr-pathogens-current-research-and-future-directions