Could a phytochemical derived from vegetables like broccoli be the answer to antibiotic-resistant pathogens?
Israeli researchers say they have found a suitable candidate.
Antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens are increasingly playing a role in rising illness and preventing wound healing, especially in hospitals.
While more and more pathogens have developed biofilms that protect them from being eradicated by antibiotics, fewer classes of antibiotics are being developed.
Researchers from Israel decided to go in a different direction and investigated a phytochemical derived from cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli that breaks down the biofilm.
Phytochemicals are chemical compounds made by plants.
Additionally, when they introduced DIM into an infected wound, it sped up the healing process significantly, the team found.