title: Plant polyphenols inhibit VacA, a toxin secreted by the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: VacA is a major virulence factor of the widespread stomach-dwelling bacterium Helicobacter pylori. It causes cell vacuolation and tissue damage by forming anion-selective, urea-permeable channels in plasma and endosomal membranes. We report that several flavone derivatives and other polyphenols present in vegetables and plants inhibit ion and urea conduction and cell vacuolation by VacA. Red wine and green tea, which contain many of the compounds in question, also potently inhibit the toxin. These observations suggest that polyphenols or polyphenol derivatives may be useful in the prevention or cure of H. pylori-associated gastric diseases.
authors.affiliation: CNR Institute of Neurosciences, Biomembranes section, and Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35121, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tombola
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campello
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papini
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zoratti
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005419:Flavonoids; D006367:HeLa Cells; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism; D014920:Wine
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D011108:Polymers; D059808:Polyphenols; D013662:Tea; C074689:VacA protein, Helicobacter pylori; D014508:Urea