METHODOLOGIES APPLIED IN THE EVALUATION OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF NATURAL PRODUCTS, A REVIEW

Abstract

Natural products continue to represent a relevant source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential, especially given the global increase in bacterial resistance to special antibiotics. In this context, reliable, reproducible and standardized methodologies for evaluating antibacterial activity are essential for prospecting, validating and comparing results obtained with extracts, fractions and isolated compounds of natural origin. This review article critically and extensively addresses the main in vitro and in vivo methodologies used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of natural products, including diffusion assays, dilution methods, cellular prediction tests, mechanistic analyses, antibiotic activity modulation studies and alternative in vivo models. Advantages, limitations, experimental criteria and applications of each approach are discussed, as well as perspectives for standardization and methodological integration in future research.