Cranberry, a potential alternative treatment for urinary tract infections
Journal
Journal of Morphological Sciences
Date Issued
2023
Author(s)
Radomir Jovchevski
Bojan Labachevski
DOI
https://doi.org/10.55302/JMS2363183lg
Abstract
Vaccinium
macrocarpon
is perennial plant traditionally used as an herbal medicine in
treatment and prevention of UTIs. Although the mechanisms of action are not jet fully
understood
it
is presumed that they involve interferation with bacterial adhesion and changes in bacterial
morphology mainly attributed to the plants proanthocyanidins.
C
ranberry extracts (CE) standardized for different concentrations of proanthocyanidinnes
(PACs), CE in combination with antibiotics (norfloxacin and vancomy
cin) and antibiotics alone (only
antibiotics) were investigated for their effect on different strains of
uropathogenic
E.coli,
S.
saprophyticus
and
E. faecalis
.
As a source of CE we used commercial herbal supplements containing only Vaccinium
macrocarpon extract (37.5 mg PACs) or CE in combination with D
-
manoza (25, 3 mg PACs). We
used bacterial strains isolated
from
out
patients with UTI
s
reffered for routine urine examination at the
Institute of microbiology and parasitology. Sensitivity of the pathogen
s to
CE
(as monoagent or
combined in herbal mix)
was evaluated with
disc diffusion method.
Our results
showed stronger
effect of
CE
on the growth of
E.coli
compared to
G
ram
-
positive
strain
s
.
S. saprophyticus
strains were
more
susceptible to the extract/herbal mixes
compared to
the
enterococci which predominantly presented as recalcitrant to
the inhibitory activity of
cranberry/herbal mixes.
The
sample size
of this study was small
to draw definite conclusions
but our results illuminate
avenues for future re
search of the potential
of
cranberry as an
alternative treatment
in
patients with
UTIs.
macrocarpon
is perennial plant traditionally used as an herbal medicine in
treatment and prevention of UTIs. Although the mechanisms of action are not jet fully
understood
it
is presumed that they involve interferation with bacterial adhesion and changes in bacterial
morphology mainly attributed to the plants proanthocyanidins.
C
ranberry extracts (CE) standardized for different concentrations of proanthocyanidinnes
(PACs), CE in combination with antibiotics (norfloxacin and vancomy
cin) and antibiotics alone (only
antibiotics) were investigated for their effect on different strains of
uropathogenic
E.coli,
S.
saprophyticus
and
E. faecalis
.
As a source of CE we used commercial herbal supplements containing only Vaccinium
macrocarpon extract (37.5 mg PACs) or CE in combination with D
-
manoza (25, 3 mg PACs). We
used bacterial strains isolated
from
out
patients with UTI
s
reffered for routine urine examination at the
Institute of microbiology and parasitology. Sensitivity of the pathogen
s to
CE
(as monoagent or
combined in herbal mix)
was evaluated with
disc diffusion method.
Our results
showed stronger
effect of
CE
on the growth of
E.coli
compared to
G
ram
-
positive
strain
s
.
S. saprophyticus
strains were
more
susceptible to the extract/herbal mixes
compared to
the
enterococci which predominantly presented as recalcitrant to
the inhibitory activity of
cranberry/herbal mixes.
The
sample size
of this study was small
to draw definite conclusions
but our results illuminate
avenues for future re
search of the potential
of
cranberry as an
alternative treatment
in
patients with
UTIs.