Bacterial intestinal infections, transmitted by contaminated food represent a major health and economic problem. Wild plants with strong natural antimicrobial sub-stances could form a natural protection against intestinal infections. In our work, we focused on wild plants growing in the Alps and Karst regions, examining their composition, tested antibacterial activity and mechanism of it. In the study, we compared scientific reports from studies, with books and ethnobotanical reports that testify to the traditional use of these plants. We studied more carefully Juniperus communis, Gnaphalium spp., Peucedanum ostruthium, Satureja montana, Artemisia absinthium, Potentilla erecta, Centaurium erythraea and Leontopodium alpinum. We have found that J. communis, P. erecta and C. erythraea are among the most studied in recent scientific articles. They were also most frequently proven to posses an antimicrobial activity. These plants also differ in the mechanisms of their antimi-crobial activity. Target bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, Bacillus cereus, Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes and others. Coumarins, phenolic compounds and tannins have been shown to have a strong antimicrobial activity, but most of these substances, due to synergy, work best with other naturally occurring substances in the plant.
 
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