Phytocompounds as Safer Antibacterial Agents

The work addresses the urgent need for safer therapeutics against gastrointestinal infections amid rising antibiotic resistance. It highlights the potential of phytocompounds, particularly focusing on 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ), which demonstrated significant selectivity in inhibiting gut pathogens while preserving beneficial gut microbiota. The study employed innovative methods like fluorescent in situ hybridization and flow cytometry to assess 8HQ's effectiveness. Additionally, it led to the development of a selective medium for isolating bifidobacteria from feces, advocating for further exploration of phytocompounds as antibacterial agents.