Summary of the Project Necessity

The discovery of antibiotics and their widespread use brought about a revolution in medical science. Many bacterial infectious diseases that had claimed human lives for centuries have been largely controlled, leading to an increase in life expectancy by about 40 years, according to many experts. While vaccination also played a key role in this area, the control of bacterial infectious diseases has undoubtedly been influenced by antibiotics. Moreover, the prevention of infections in surgical procedures has facilitated extensive surgeries. However, the emergence of microbial resistance to antibiotics is a new phenomenon that has arisen following this significant discovery, and today many patients and doctors are grappling with this major issue. As a result of this resistance, many lives are lost, and the inability to overcome chronic infections, especially in immunocompromised patients, poses a serious problem. This can lead to amputations in diabetic patients and failures in chemotherapy patients or those undergoing bone marrow transplants. Furthermore, infections can challenge the outcomes of many surgical procedures, affecting numerous patients in intensive care units. To address this significant issue, various solutions have been proposed, including the production of broad-spectrum and expensive antibiotics, as well as the use of antibiotic enhancers against microbial resistance, such as beta-lactamase inhibitors. Although these approaches have somewhat alleviated the severity of the problem, they have never truly resolved it. Among the supportive measures are the use of certain substances, drugs, and supplements aimed at breaking microbial resistance and enhancing the body's ability to combat infections. Extracts from medicinal plants and foods, such as holy basil, garlic, and Indian spices, are among these substances. Given the emergence of new microbial resistances and the necessity to combat these factors, this study aims to utilize the combination of these medicinal plants to tackle resistant infections.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Mohammad Bayat
Start Year: 2024