The impact of phytochemicals present in the diet on microbial signalling in the human gut

Abstract

Diet has a significant impact on shaping the human gut microbiome; this could be partially due to the ability of certain phytochemicals found in the diet to interfere with native microbial signalling. Compounds isolated from foods such as garlic, coffee and grapefruit have all been shown to have a significant impact on the virulence potential of known pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro. This impact on pathogenicity is the result of the ability of phytochemicals isolated from these foods to inhibit of quorum sensing. These phytochemicals with quorum sensing inhibitory activity have the potential to be developed as next generation antimicrobials, which inhibit key virulence processes utilised by bacteria to establish infection while reducing the probability of selecting for resistance. These phytochemicals have the potential to be exploited as ingredients in nutraceuticals, functional food ingredients and pharmaceuticals that are capable of improving the efficacy of traditional antibiotic therapies.