Inhibition activity of wild berry juice fractions against Streptococcus pneumoniae binding to human bronchial cells
Résumé
Bacterial adhesion to the cell surface is a crucial step before infection can take place. Inhibition of bacterial binding offers a novel preventive approach against infections. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) juice has been found to have anti-adhesive activity against different bacteria. Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important pathogen and the most common cause for pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media. In this study the inhibitory activity of cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), and crowberry (Empetrum nigrum and Empetrum hermaphroditum L.) juice fractions against pneumococcal binding was tested using human bronchial cells (Calu-3) as an adhesion model. In addition, antimicrobial activity of the berry juice fractions was tested. It was found that the studied berry juice fractions had anti-adhesion activity and cranberry juice was the most active. The adhesion inhibition activity of cranberry juice was nearly 90 % at the concentration of 8.7 mg/g of soluble solids. Antimicrobial activity of the studied berry juice fractions was found to be remarkable; pneumococcal growth was inhibited totally at the concentration of ~86 mg/g. Both anti-adhesion and antimicrobial activities were reduced after solid-phase extraction of the berry juices, which may suggest molecular synergistic effects of the berry juice molecules against S. pneumoniae. The findings indicate that cranberry, bilberry, and crowberry juices have potential against pneumococcal infections.
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