Innovative approach in contrasting antibiotic resistance: natural extracts and prebiotics from animal to human nutrition

Anmicrobial resistance (AMR) is widely regarded as one of the most significant global health challenges of the twenty-first century. It threatens the effecveness of convenonal anbioc therapies in both human and veterinary medicine. Within the One Health framework, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health, there is an urgent need to idenfy sustainable alternaves that can reduce anbioc use while maintaining effecve infecon management. Consequently, plant-derived products and natural bioacve compounds are aracng increasing scienfic interest due to their anmicrobial, an-virulence and resistance-modulang properes. Addressing this challenge requires innovave approaches that integrate academic research and industrial applicaon seamlessly. Extensive screening and characterizaon of various plant matrices reveal fracons that can effecvely inhibit bacterial growth. Parcular aenon is devoted to phytochemicals, such as polyphenols and other secondary metabolites, whose mul-target mechanisms represent valuable alternaves to, or adjuncts for, convenonal anbiocs. Translang these promising natural products into commercially available soluons that comply with European regulaons involves navigang complex industrial and regulatory frameworks. The development of phytogenic products for animal nutrion, such as organolepc feed addives based on Vaccinium macrocarpon, illustrates the scienfic, technical and regulatory requirements necessary for market authorizaon. These soluons are crucial for managing condions such as urinary tract health and ulmately contribute to reducing anbioc pressure in companion animals. In addion to terrestrial plant extracts, carotenoid-rich microalgal biomass is emerging as a highly versale funconal ingredient. Opmizing extracon processes through advanced technologies, including ultrasound- and microwaveassisted extracon supported by design of experiments (DoE) methodologies, enhances the recovery of these valuable compounds. Furthermore, evaluang the bioaccessibility of compounds such as lutein when incorporated into various beverage matrices using in vitro digeson models provides valuable insights into the nutrional potenal and technological applicability of microalgae-derived ingredients. Ulmately, invesgang plant extracts, phytogenic feed addives and microalgae-derived bioacve compounds together provide robust experimental, regulatory and technological evidence supporng the role of natural products in migang AMR. This muldisciplinary approach contributes to the development of complementary infecon management strategies, reflecng the growing demand for integrated, sustainable health intervenons that align with One Health principles.