The global rise of antimicrobial resistance has intensified the search for therapeutic strategies that reduce bacterial pathogenicity without relying solely on bacterial killing. Quorum sensing (QS), a cell-density-dependent communication system, regulates key virulence traits including biofilm formation, motility, toxin production, extracellular enzyme secretion, immune evasion, metabolic adaptation, and antimicrobial tolerance. As a result, QS has become a promising target for anti-virulence therapy. Numerous bioactive compounds, including phytochemicals, essential oils, microbial metabolites, antimicrobial peptides, quorum-quenching enzymes, synthetic inhibitors, and nanomaterials, have been investigated for their ability to interfere with QS-regulated pathways. However, validating anti-QS activity remains methodologically challenging because many putative QS inhibitors also affect bacterial growth, metabolism, membrane integrity, or biofilm stability, making it difficult to distinguish true communication interference from nonspecific antimicrobial effects. This review critically evaluates the […] Read more at https://mjcellpress.com/article/mjm01/