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Bioactive compounds in cranberries and their role in prevention of urinary tract infections
Author(s) -
Howell Amy B.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.200700038
Subject(s) - ingestion , urinary system , proanthocyanidin , vaccinium , urine , escherichia coli , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , cranberry juice , antibiotics , biology , food science , medicine , chemistry , antioxidant , biochemistry , botany , polyphenol , genetics , gene
Cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) ingestion has long been associated with prevention of urinary tract infections. The beneficial mechanism was historically thought to be due to the fruit acids causing a bacteriostatic effect in the urine. However, recently, a group of proanthocyanidins (PACs) with A‐type linkages were isolated from cranberry which exhibit bacterial antiadhesion activity against both antibiotic susceptible and resistant strains of uropathogenic P‐fimbriated Escherichia coli bacteria. The link between cranberry ingestion and maintenance of urinary tract health as well as the structural diversity, pharmacokinetics, quantification, and bacterial antiadhesion bioactivity of the A‐linked cranberry PACs are reviewed.