Antimicrobial resistance has become one of the most serious risks to public health worldwide.
Antimicrobial resistance develops when pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) evolve over time and become resistant to existing treatment options.
As a result, there is an urgent need to discover new antimicrobial drugs to treat infections.
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth and Naresuan and Pibulsongkram Rajabhat Universities in Thailand recently investigated the possible antibacterial effects of the substance hydroquinine, which is found in the bark of various plants.
Although hydroquinine is previously known to be effective against human malaria, little research has been done on its drug resistance characteristics to date.
The research, which was published in the journal Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, suggests that the organic compound may merit further clinical study due to its antibacterial abilities.
“Using experiments to kill bacteria,” as Dr. Robert Baldock explained, “we found that hydroquinine could kill a number of microorganisms, including the common multidrug-resistant pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
“Characteristically,” added the author, “we also found that one of the main mechanisms used by these bacteria to escape the lethal activity of the drug was up-regulated by treatment, indicating a robust response by the bacteria.
“By studying this compound further, our hope is that in the future it may offer another line of treatment to combat bacterial infections.”
More than 2.8 million infections are caused by drug-resistant bacteria, which also cause 35,000 deaths each year. Common antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” are the leading cause of pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and sepsis.
Statistically, P. aeruginosa bloodstream infections have significant mortality rates of 30-50%.
The report suggests that more research be done on antimicrobial resistance traits and negative effects of hydroquinine.
Dr. Jirapas Jongjitwimol from Naresuan University Department of Medical Technology commented, “Our future research is aimed at discovering the molecular target of hydroquinine. This would help our understanding of how the compound works against pathogenic bacteria and how it could potentially be used in a clinical setting.”
Image credit: Getty
