Antibacterial Activity of Endophytic Bacteria against Human Pathogenic Bacteria: Article Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35451/jfm.v9i1.3829Keywords:
Endophytic Bacteria, Antibacterial Activity, Human Pathogens, Antimicrobial Resistance, Secondary MetabolitesAbstract
Endophytic bacteria are microorganisms residing within plant tissues without causing apparent disease symptoms on their host. Over the past decade, endophytic bacteria have gained considerable attention as sources of novel bioactive compounds, particularly antibacterial agents with the potential to combat antimicrobial resistance. This systematic review analyzes more than 200 international and national journal articles published over the last ten years (2014–2024) concerning the antibacterial activity of endophytic bacteria against human pathogenic bacteria. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, with the literature search performed in April 2026 using the following major electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and the Indonesian national journal portal, SINTA. Results demonstrate that endophytic bacteria from the genera Bacillus, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Pseudarthrobacter, Serratia, and Enterobacter are most frequently reported as producers of active antibacterial compounds. Endophytic isolates from medicinal plants consistently show greater potency than those from non-medicinal plants. Bioactive compounds reported include lipopeptides (surfactin, iturin, fengycin), terpenoids, alkaloids, polyketides, cyclic peptides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The most frequently targeted human pathogens include Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Inhibitory mechanisms involve cell membrane disruption, cell wall synthesis inhibition, and nucleotide metabolism interference. These findings confirm that endophytic bacteria represent a promising reservoir for the development of next-generation antibiotics amid the global antimicrobial resistance crisis.
Downloads
References
[1] V. E. Kaban, N. Nasri, H. D. Syahputra, M. F. Lubis, and D. Satria, “Uji Aktivitas Antibakteri Ekstrak Daun Karenda (Carissa carandas Linn.) Terhadap Bakteri Propionibacterium acne dan Staphylococcus epidermidis,” J. Pharm. Heal. Res., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 91–96, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.47065/jharma.v4i1.3181.
[2] N. Nasri et al., “Exploring Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Toxicity Prediction of Purslane Herb (Portulaca oleracea L.) from Several Extraction Solvents,” Palest. Med. Pharm. J., vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 241–248, Sep. 2026, doi: 10.59049/2790-0231.11.3.2520.
[3] N. Nasri, V. E. Kaban, H. D. Syahputra, and D. Satria, “Aktivitas Antibakteri Ekstrak Etanol Daun Alpukat (Persea americana Mill) Terhadap Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, dan Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” Herb. Med. J., vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 13–19, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.58996/hmj.v5i1.37.
[4] J. M. E. Hernández-Méndez et al., “Antibacterial Activity of Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Acute Diarrheal Diseases in Chiapas, Mexico,” Microbiol. Res. (Pavia)., vol. 16, no. 1, p. 10, Jan. 2025, doi: 10.3390/microbiolres16010010.
[5] I. Janatiningrum, L. Najah, I. Permatasari, Fitriyanti, V. Anggia, and E. Putri, “KERAGAMAN DAN POTENSI BAKTERI ENDOFIT MATOA (Pometia pinnata) SEBAGAI PENGHASIL AGEN ANTIMIKROBA,” Ber. Biol., vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 113–125, 2026, doi: 10.55981/berita.
[6] L. Zulkifli, R. Sakaroni, D. A. C. Rasmi, and G. C. Wirajagat, “Endophytic Bacteria of Mangrove Roots from the West Coast of Lombok Island with Phosphate-Solubilizing and IAA-Producing Abilities as Biofertilizer Candidates,” J. Biol. Trop., vol. 25, no. 4b, pp. 607–618, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.29303/jbt.v25i4b.11175.
[7] S. Khan, V. Verma, and S. Rasool, “Diversity and the role of endophytic bacteria: A review,” Bot. Serbica, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 103–120, 2020, doi: 10.2298/BOTSERB2002103K.
[8] M. Ali et al., “Diversity and Taxonomic Distribution of Endophytic Bacterial Community in the Rice Plant and Its Prospective,” Int. J. Mol. Sci., vol. 22, no. 18, p. 10165, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.3390/ijms221810165.
[9] M. Hnini and J. Aurag, “Prevalence, diversity and applications potential of nodules endophytic bacteria: a systematic review,” Front. Microbiol., vol. 15, May 2024, doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1386742.
[10] L. Soesanto and E. Mugiastuti, Mikroba Endofit: Eksplorasi, Potensi, dan Pemanfaatan Mikroba Endofit Bagi Kesehatan Tanaman dan Manusia serta Keuntungan Ekonomi. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Andi, 2023.
[11] A. Triastuti, “Fungal endophytes as the source of medicinal natural product,” J. Ilm. Farm., vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 52–73, Jul. 2020, doi: 10.20885/jif.vol16.iss1.art6.
[12] M. S. Ngalimat et al., “A Review on the Biotechnological Applications of the Operational Group Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,” Microorganisms, vol. 9, no. 3, p. 614, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9030614.
[13] H.-Q. Xu et al., “EMNPD: a comprehensive endophytic microorganism natural products database for prompt the discovery of new bioactive substances,” J. Cheminform., vol. 15, no. 1, p. 115, Nov. 2023, doi: 10.1186/s13321-023-00779-9.
[14] H. Cun et al., “Diversity of root endophytic bacteria from maize seedling involved in biocontrol and plant growth promotion,” Egypt. J. Biol. Pest Control, vol. 32, no. 1, p. 129, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.1186/s41938-022-00622-7.
[15] P. Vega-Celedón et al., “Microbial Diversity of Psychrotolerant Bacteria Isolated from Wild Flora of Andes Mountains and Patagonia of Chile towards the Selection of Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterial Consortia to Alleviate Cold Stress in Plants,” Microorganisms, vol. 9, no. 3, p. 538, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9030538.
[16] Elsie, N. Herlina, and R. T. Putri, “Isolasi Actinomycetes Endofit dari Tanaman Akar Wangi (Vetiveria Zizanioides) dan Uji Aktivitas Senyawa Antibakteri terhadap Staphylococcus Aureus dan Escherichia Coli,” Phot. J. Sain dan Kesehat., vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 13–22, Apr. 2018, doi: 10.37859/jp.v8i2.742.
[17] G. Pal, K. Kumar, A. Verma, and S. K. Verma, “Seed inhabiting bacterial endophytes of maize promote seedling establishment and provide protection against fungal disease,” Microbiol. Res., vol. 255, p. 126926, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2021.126926.
[18] G. Polito et al., “Endophytic Bacteria and Essential Oil from Origanum vulgare ssp. vulgare Share Some VOCs with an Antibacterial Activity,” Microorganisms, vol. 10, no. 7, p. 1424, Jul. 2022, doi: 10.3390/microorganisms10071424.
[19] P. P. Tshikhudo, K. Ntushelo, and F. N. Mudau, “Sustainable Applications of Endophytic Bacteria and Their Physiological/Biochemical Roles on Medicinal and Herbal Plants: Review,” Microorganisms, vol. 11, no. 2, p. 453, Feb. 2023, doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11020453.
[20] N. Mohd Rosli, M. H. A. Ponari, T. C. Meenakshi Sundram, Z. Zainuddin, and M. F. Yunus, “EXPLORING THE BENEFICIAL ENDOPHYTES OF ZINGIBERACEAE,” J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. food Sci., vol. 13, no. 5, p. e9746, Feb. 2024, doi: 10.55251/jmbfs.9746.
[21] Y. Delbari, Y. Mohassel, E. Kakaei, and Y. Bahrami, “Identification and anti-bacterial property of endophytic actinobacteria from Thymes kotschyanus, Allium hooshidaryae, and Cerasus microcarpa,” Sci. Rep., vol. 13, no. 1, p. 13145, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40478-x.
[22] G. Semenzato et al., “Antibacterial Properties of Bacterial Endophytes Isolated from the Medicinal Plant Origanum heracleoticum L.,” Front. Biosci., vol. 29, no. 3, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.31083/j.fbl2903111.
[23] L. Hnamte, Vanlallawmzuali, A. Kumar, M. K. Yadav, Zothanpuia, and P. K. Singh, “An updated view of bacterial endophytes as antimicrobial agents against plant and human pathogens,” Curr. Res. Microb. Sci., vol. 7, p. 100241, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2024.100241.
[24] U. Anand et al., “Current Scenario and Future Prospects of Endophytic Microbes: Promising Candidates for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management for Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability,” Microb. Ecol., vol. 86, no. 3, pp. 1455–1486, Oct. 2023, doi: 10.1007/s00248-023-02190-1.
[25] C. Zhen, X.-F. Ge, Y.-T. Lu, and W.-Z. Liu, “Chemical structure, properties and potential applications of surfactin, as well as advanced strategies for improving its microbial production,” AIMS Microbiol., vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 195–217, 2023, doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2023012.
[26] A. H. Elmaidomy et al., “Antimicrobial potentials of natural products against multidrug resistance pathogens: a comprehensive review,” RSC Adv., vol. 12, no. 45, pp. 29078–29102, 2022, doi: 10.1039/D2RA04884A.
[27] S. M. Lipps and D. A. Samac, “Pseudomonas viridiflava : An internal outsider of the Pseudomonas syringae species complex,” Mol. Plant Pathol., vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 3–15, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1111/mpp.13133.
[28] L. Ding, A. Maier, H.-H. Fiebig, W.-H. Lin, and C. Hertweck, “A family of multicyclic indolosesquiterpenes from a bacterial endophyte,” Org. Biomol. Chem., vol. 9, no. 11, p. 4029, 2011, doi: 10.1039/c1ob05283g.
[29] J. T. Wibowo et al., “Anti-Infective and Antiviral Activity of Valinomycin and Its Analogues from a Sea Cucumber-Associated Bacterium, Streptomyces sp. SV 21,” Mar. Drugs, vol. 19, no. 2, p. 81, Feb. 2021, doi: 10.3390/md19020081.
[30] H. Li, H. Li, S. Chen, W. Wu, and P. Sun, “Isolation and Identification of Pentalenolactone Analogs from Streptomyces sp. NRRL S-4,” Molecules, vol. 26, no. 23, p. 7377, Dec. 2021, doi: 10.3390/molecules26237377.
[31] Q. Zhang, C. M. Kobras, S. Gebhard, T. Mascher, and D. Wolf, “Regulation of heterologous subtilin production in Bacillus subtilis W168,” Microb. Cell Fact., vol. 21, no. 1, p. 57, Apr. 2022, doi: 10.1186/s12934-022-01782-9.
[32] R. F. Zakariyah et al., “Progress in endophytic fungi secondary metabolites: biosynthetic gene cluster reactivation and advances in metabolomics,” Bull. Natl. Res. Cent., vol. 48, no. 1, p. 44, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.1186/s42269-024-01199-x.
[33] H. Put, H. Gerstmans, H. Vande Capelle, M. Fauvart, J. Michiels, and J. Masschelein, “Bacillus subtilis as a host for natural product discovery and engineering of biosynthetic gene clusters,” Nat. Prod. Rep., vol. 41, no. 7, pp. 1113–1151, 2024, doi: 10.1039/D3NP00065F.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Helmi Andriyani, Asih Triastuti, Qori Fadillah
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright in each article is the property of the Author.
