Discovery of plants and fungi with antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes

Acne vulgaris is a common skin disorder that affects >85% of teenagers. Propionibacterium acnes is implicated in its pathogenesis, and like many other bacteria, is subject to emerging trends in antibiotic resistance. Novel therapies are in high demand. The aim of this study was to identify new leads for future pre-clinical development from herbal skin remedies used in Italy. We screened a unique natural product library composed of extracts from medicinal and randomly collected plants and fungi from the Mediterranean for growth-inhibitory and anti-biofilm activity in P. acnes. Evaluation of 157 extracts from 10 fungi and 58 plants led to the identification of crude extracts from seven specie…