ArticlePloS one2021
Reproducibility challenges in the search for antibacterial compounds from nature.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A systematic review of antibacterial activity of polyphenolic extract from date palm (Frontiers in pharmacology · 2022Pooled it
- Supercritical COMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Identification of plant based potential antifungal compounds against BMK-1 protein of Bipolaris oryzae using molecular docking approach.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Invitro antibacterial activity of bark, leaf and root extracts of combretum molle plant against streptococcus equi isolated from clinical cases of strangles in donkeys and horses.BMC veterinary research · 2024Article
- Phytochemical Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of AlbanianAntioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Current Landscape of Methods to Evaluate Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Extracts.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Isolation and Characterization of Galloylglucoses Effective against Multidrug-Resistant Strains ofMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Evaluation of Biological Activity of Natural Compounds: Current Trends and Methods.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundReproducibility of reported antibacterial activities of plant extracts has long remained questionable. Although plant-related factors should be well considered in serious pharmacognostic research, they are often not addressed in many research papers. Here we highlight the challenges in reproducing antibacterial activities of plant extracts.
methodsPlants with reported antibacterial activities of interest were obtained from a literature review. Antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were tested using extracts' solutions in 10% DMSO and acetone. Compositions of working solutions from both solvents were established using LC-MS analysis. Moreover, the availability of details likely to affect reproducibility was evaluated in articles which reported antibacterial activities of studied plants.
resultsInhibition of bacterial growth at MIC of 256-1024 μg/mL was observed in only 15.4% of identical plant species. These values were 4-16-fold higher than those reported earlier. Further, 18.2% of related plant species had MICs of 128-256 μg/mL. Besides, 29.2% and 95.8% of the extracts were soluble to sparingly soluble in 10% DMSO and acetone, respectively. Extracts' solutions in both solvents showed similar qualitative compositions, with differing quantities of corresponding phytochemicals. Details regarding seasons and growth state at collection were missing in 65% and 95% of evaluated articles, respectively. Likewise, solvents used to dissolve the extracts were lacking in 30% of the articles, whereas 40% of them used unidentified bacterial isolates.
conclusionReproducibility of previously reported activities from plants' extracts is a multi-factorial aspect. Thus, collective approaches are necessary in addressing the highlighted challenges.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.