Phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activities of 45 Malay traditional medicinal plants

Abstract The phytochemical constituents of medicinal plants and their antibacterial activities are proof of their therapeutic value in treating bacterial infections. Records of phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activities of medicinal plants are very significant because such documentation can be used for further investigations to obtain novel therapies that can combat bacterial infections. Therefore, this survey evaluates data from extant literature on 45 selected traditional medicinal plants used by the Malays for treating infections, their phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activities. The objective is to bridge existing research gaps, make recommendations based on existing knowledge on benefits derived from medicinal plants, suggest further scientific investigations for novel antibacterial therapies and consider present and past values of traditional medicinal plants as bioactive natural compounds. All the species of plants listed in this review have medicinal properties, thus, authenticating their usages in folk medicine.