Kaempferol: Antimicrobial Properties, Sources, Clinical, and Traditional Applications

Argyrios Periferakis; Constantin Caruntu; Cristian Scheau; Raluca Costache; Ana Caruntu; Delia Popa; Elena Petran; Ioana Badarau; Konstantinos Periferakis; Daniel Costache

Authors

Argyrios Periferakis Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Constantin Caruntu Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Cristian Scheau Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Raluca Costache Department of Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Clinic, ‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
Ana Caruntu Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, ‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania
Delia Popa Department of Biochemistry, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Elena Petran Department of Biochemistry, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Ioana Badarau Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Konstantinos Periferakis Akadimia of Ancient Greek and Traditional Chinese Medicine, 16675 Athens, Greece
Daniel Costache Department of Dermatology, ‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania

Keywords:

kaempferol, molecular mechanisms, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antifungal, herbal medicine

Abstract

Flavonoids are a category of plant-derived compounds which exhibit a large number of health-related effects. One of the most well-known and studied flavonoids is kaempferol, which can be found in a wide variety of herbs and plant families. Apart from their anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects, kaempferol and its associated compounds also exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal activities. The development of drugs and treatment schemes based on these compounds is becoming increasingly important in the face of emerging resistance of numerous pathogens as well as complex molecular interactions between various drug therapies. In addition, many of the kaempferol-containing plants are used in traditional systems all over the world for centuries to treat numerous conditions. Due to its variety of sources and associated compounds, some molecular mechanisms of kaempferol antimicrobial activity are well known while others are still under analysis. This paper thoroughly documents the vegetal and food sources of kaempferol as well as the most recent and significant studies regarding its antimicrobial applications. Keywords: kaempferol, molecular mechanisms, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antifungal, herbal medicine

Author Biographies

Argyrios Periferakis, Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania

Akadimia of Ancient Greek and Traditional Chinese Medicine, 16675 Athens, Greece

Constantin Caruntu, Department of Physiology, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania

Department of Dermatology, ‘Prof. N.C. Paulescu’ National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, 011233 Bucharest, Romania

Raluca Costache, Department of Gastroenterology, Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Clinic, ‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania

Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania

Ana Caruntu, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, ‘Dr. Carol Davila’ Central Military Emergency Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, ‘Titu Maiorescu’ University, 031593 Bucharest, Romania

Delia Popa, Department of Biochemistry, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania

Department of Hematology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, 022328 Bucharest, Romania

Elena Petran, Department of Biochemistry, The “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania

Department of Toxicology, Grigore Alexandrescu Emergency Children’s Hospital, 011743 Bucharest, Romania

Konstantinos Periferakis, Akadimia of Ancient Greek and Traditional Chinese Medicine, 16675 Athens, Greece

Orasis Acupuncture Institute, 11526 Athens, Greece