Revisiting Poaceae: antibacterial prospects in the era of antimicrobial resistance

The rapid rise of antimicrobial resistance necessitates the exploration of alternative sources of antibacterial agents. While medicinal plants have been extensively studied, grasses remain largely underexplored despite their global abundance and ecological significance. This review synthesizes existing knowledge on the antibacterial potential of Poaceae members, focusing on their activity against clinically relevant pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp and more. Existing evidences indicate that several grasses exhibit measurable antibacterial activity, like Eleusine indica and Digitaria species. showing broad-spectrum effects. The presence of bioactive compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and saponins significantly contribute to this activity. However, most studies remain limited to in vitro assessments, with considerable variability in methodologies and outcomes. This review highlights the need for systematic phytochemical investigations, mechanistic studies and in vivo validation to fully realize the pharmacological potential of Poaceae. Reframing grasses as sources of bioactive compounds offers new perspectives in ecological phytochemistry and antimicrobial drug discovery.