Highly Active Cranberry's Polyphenolic Fraction: New Advances in Processing and Clinical Applications.

Cranberry is a fruit originally from New England and currently growing throughout the east and northeast parts of the USA and Canada. The supplementation of cranberry extracts as nutraceuticals showed to contribute to the prevention of urinary tract infections, and most likely it may help to prevent cardiovascular and gastroenteric diseases, as highlighted by several clinical trials. However, aiming to validate the efficacy and safety of clinical applications as long-term randomized clinical trials (RCTs), further investigations of the mechanisms of action are required. In addition, a real challenge for next years is the standardization of cranberry's polyphenolic fractions. In this context, the optimization of the extraction process and downstream processing represent a key point for a reliable active principle for the formulation of a food supplement. For this reason, new non-conventional extraction methods have been developed to improve the quality of the extracts and reduce the overall costs. The aim of this survey is to describe both technologies and processes for highly active cranberry extracts as well as the effects observed in clinical studies and the respective tolerability notes.

Treatment considerations for potential uropathogens detected by precision microbiological testing.

PURPOSE: The clinical and microbiological data for urinary tract infections (UTIs) for 6 organisms detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) at community health systems were examined. SUMMARY: The use of precision microbiological diagnostic testing such as MALDI-TOF and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction has increased the ability to detect a wider spectrum of organisms. This has raised questions of the clinical relevance of infrequently encountered organisms, especially when cultured from urine. This article reviews clinical and microbiological data for UTIs for 6 organisms detected by MALDI-TOF at community health systems (Actinotignum schaalii, Chryseobacterium indologenes, Aerococcus urinae, Aerococcus sanguinicola, Corynebacterium riegelii, and Corynebacterium urealyticum). Since little information currently exists, most of the data associating the aforementioned organisms with UTIs were derived from case reports. Although these organisms are more readily identified using precision microbiological diagnostic testing methods, infection should not be assumed based on culture results alone since asymptomatic bacteriuria has been reported. Similar to more common urinary pathogens, clinical correlation is essential. To facilitate treatment, we provide a table of empirical options likely to achieve clinical success based on in vivo and in vitro data. If available, pathogen-specific susceptibility data should be used to direct therapy. CONCLUSION: Clinical and microbiological data and potential treatment options were presented for 6 traditionally underrecognized organisms that are increasingly being found from urinary specimens. The treatment recommendations should be interpreted cautiously as they were devised through the use of very limited data.

Study on the influence of cranberry extract Zuravit S·O·S(®) on the properties of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains, their ability to form biofilm and its antioxidant properties.

Consumption of cranberries is known to exert positive health effects, especially against urinary tract infections. For this reason, presumably, they are widely used in folk medicine. Different aspects of cranberry phenolics activity were studied in individual papers but complex study in this matter is missing. The aim of the present study is to provide complex data concerning various aspects of cranberry extract activity. We studied the effects of subinhibitory concentrations of commercially available extract (Zuravit S·O·S(®)) against two Escherichia coli strains isolated from urine of patients with pyelonephritis. Additionally the main extract anthocyanins were characterized. The activity of extract against lipid peroxidation and its radical scavenging ability were also assessed. Zuravit S·O·S(®) decreased the hydrophobicity of one of the studied E. coli strains, reduced swimming motility and adhesion to epithelial cells of both studied strains, it also limited the ability of bacteria to form biofilm. Expression of curli was not affected by cranberry extract, the assessment of P fimbriae expression was not reliable due to extract-induced agglutination of erythrocytes. Cranberry extract caused filamentation in both studied E. coli strains. It also showed pronounced antioxidant and radical scavenging properties. The properties of the studied cranberry extract show that it could be effectively used in prevention and/or elimination of urinary tract infections, specially the recurrent ones.

Cranberry components for the therapy of infectious disease.

Summary of the in vitro data support a beneficial effect of cranberry or its proanthocyanin constituents by blocking adhesion to and biofilm formation on target tissues of pathogens. In vivo data partially support these beneficial effects. Consumption of various cranberry products benefited young and elderly females in preventing urinary tract infections, and in conjunction with antibiotic treatment in eradicating Helicobacter pylori infections in women. Mouthwash supplemented with an isolated cranberry derivative reduced significantly the caryogenic mutans streptococci. None of the mice infected intranasal with lethal dose of influenza virus and treated with cranberry fraction died after two weeks. Further studies should focus on the active cranberry component as supplement for food and other products especially where whole juice or powder cannot be used.

Consumption of sweetened dried cranberries versus unsweetened raisins for inhibition of uropathogenic Escherichia coli adhesion in human urine: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether consumption of sweetened dried cranberries elicits urinary anti-adherence properties against Escherichia coli as previously demonstrated with cranberry juice and/or sweetened cranberry juice cocktail, compared to unsweetened raisins. DESIGN: Uropathogenic E. coli isolates were obtained from five women with culture-confirmed urinary tract infections (UTIs). Four urine samples were collected from each subject. The first urine sample was collected before any study intervention. The second urine sample was collected 2-5 hours after consumption of one box (42.5 g) of raisins. The third urine sample was collected 5-7 days later. The final urine sample was collected 2-5 hours after consumption of approximately 42.5 g of dried cranberries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: E. coli isolates were incubated separately in each of the four urine samples collected from the five subjects. Bacteria were harvested from the urine and tested for the ability to prevent adhesion of P-fimbriated E. coli bacteria using a mannose-resistant hemagglutination assay with human red blood cells (A1, Rh+). RESULTS: Of the urine samples collected after dried cranberry consumption, one demonstrated 50% antiadherence activity, two demonstrated 25% activity, and two did not show any increased activity. None of the control urine samples and none of the postraisin consumption samples demonstrated any inhibitory activity. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this pilot study on only five subjects suggest that consumption of a single serving of sweetened dried cranberries may elicit bacterial antiadhesion activity in human urine, whereas consumption of a single serving of raisins does not. Further studies are needed to verify the antiadhesion effect of sweetened dried cranberries. In addition, dose-response and pharmacokinetics of the active compounds in the dried cranberries need to be determined. If clinical research is positive, dried cranberries could potentially be a viable alternative to cranberry juice consumption for prevention of UTIs.

Urinary tract infections cranberry juice, underwear, and probiotics in the 21st century.

There is a substantial gap between the viewpoint of urologists and the rest of society regarding UTIs. Urologists spend little time and effort thinking about UTIs. In contrast, UTIs are a major issue for many women. There is substantial concern about "natural compounds" and probiotics that allow women to take charge of their health care. It is easy to understand this concern because UTIs are common, costly, and cause considerable morbidity.