Bioactive Phytochemicals Targeting Microbial Activities Mediated by Quorum Sensing

Bacteria engage on a cell-density dependent communication mechanism known as quorum sensing (QS) in order to regulate important phenotypes, including virulence. QS inhibition through the use of small interfering molecules has become attractive as an anti-virulence strategy. There is great potential presented by plant secondary metabolites due to multiple interactions between plants and microbes. The broad classes of phenolic compounds are valuable resources since their interference with QS has been suggested. This chapter will present studies dealing with plant compounds that can interfere with QS and how this interaction happens at the molecular level. We also discuss those compounds or plant extracts in which QS interference has been suggested based upon inhibition of QS controlled phenotypes, even though details about the mechanism of action are still missing. Quorum sensing inhibition has emerged as an antivirulence strategy and phytochemicals are among the main compounds that can be used in biotechnological applications directed to the food and pharmaceutical industries.