Antimicrobials from Mangroves

Mangroves are a promising source of antimicrobials owing to the bioavailability of genes, plant metabolites and biological diversity. Mangroves are known for their many biological properties, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-cancer activities etc. Besides mangroves, the microbes associated with mangroves are called endophytes, which are proven effective antimicrobials and are also well-known for their many other pharmacological properties. Mangrove extracts coated with nanoparticles exhibit better antimicrobial activity due to their easy absorption and distribution properties. The antimicrobial activity of mangroves is due to the presence of abundant phenolic and flavonoid compounds, especially tannins, and to the antioxidant property of the bioactive substances present in the mangroves. Thus, mangroves have a great bioprospecting potential for developing the most potent antimicrobials to treat pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi. This chapter deals with the antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-mycotic, anti-virulence and anti-biofilm properties of mangrove extracts and mangrove endophytes against various pathogenic and multidrug-resistant microbes. In addition, patenting of natural compounds from mangroves and their endophytes, as well as metabolomics and proteomics, are also discussed in this chapter.