Role of endophytic bacteria in medicinal plants: new horizons in antimicrobial therapy and sustainable agriculture

This article provides an overview of the material on assessing the antimicrobial potential of endophytic bacteria living in medicinal plants and their significance for medicine and agriculture. Endophytic bacteria, living symbiotically with plants, synthesize bioactive metabolites that can protect host plants from pathogens and promote their growth. Such interactions not only enhance plant resistance to various stresses but also offer new molecular compounds to combat microbes, including drug-resistant strains. Given the growing issue of antibiotic resistance, research on endophytic bacteria opens promising avenues for developing new antibiotics and sustainable agricultural practices, reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. This article aims to encourage further interdisciplinary research in bioprospecting to utilize endophytes as novel sources of antimicrobial agents.