As ethnic medic

ine

the whole grass of plants in

Cirsium

was used as antimicrobial. This review focuses on the antimicrobial activity of plants in

Cirsium

including antimicrobial components

against different types of microbes and bacteriostatic mechanism. The results showed that the main antimicrobial activity components in

Cirsium

plants were flavonoids

triterpenoids and phenolic acids

and the antimicrobial ability varied according to the species and the content of chemicals. Among them

phenolic acids showed a strong antibacterial ability against

Acinetobacter baumannii

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

and

Enterococcus faecium

. The antibacterial mechanisms include: (1) damaging the cell membrane

cell walls

mitochondria and nucleus of bacteria; (2) inhibiting the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids; (3) suppressing the synthesis of enzymes for tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways and glycolysis

and then killing the bacteria via inhibition of energy production. Totally

most research results on antimicrobial activity of

Cirsium

plants are reported based on

in vitro

assays. The evidence from clinical data and comprehensive evaluation are needed.