Natural and hemi-synthetic pentacyclic triterpenes as antimicrobials and resistance modifying agents against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis>: a review

Staphylococcus aureus infections are considered as seriously problematic for human health and necessitate the development of new medicines and innovative antimicrobial strategies. Plant secondary metabolites have already demonstrated their potential as antibacterials when used alone but also in combination with other antimicrobial agents to potentiate their activity. Triterpenoids are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and known to have many beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-proliferative, antimycotic, or antimicrobial activity. The aim of this paper is to review the activity of pentacyclic triterpenoids belonging to the ursane, oleanane, or lupane groups against Staphylococcus aureus. We summarize their activity as anti-staphylococcal compounds but also as resistance modifying agents when combined with common antibiotics.