title: Large molecules as anti-adhesive compounds against pathogens.
abstract: Anti-adhesive compounds are potential prophylactic tools in alternative treatment regimes against bacterial infection, as bacterial adhesion is commonly mediated by carbohydrate-protein interactions between surface adhesions of microorganisms and the host cell. The use of exogenous polyvalent, high-molecular carbohydrates and tannin-like plant-derived compounds should antagonize the adhesive interaction. A range of carbohydrates and carbohydrate- and proanthocyanidin-enriched plant extracts were screened for potential anti-adhesive effects against Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter jejuni, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Candida albicans in different in-situ assays on primary tissue. The adhesion of H. pylori on human stomach tissue was effectively blocked by glucuronic acid-enriched polysaccharides from immature okra fruits (Abelmoschus esculentus). These compounds also had strong in-vitro effects against C. jejuni (inhibition up to 80%), but were ineffective in an in-vivo study in infected chicken broilers due to metabolism in the gastrointestinal system. Polysaccharides from Glycyrrhizia glabra, also enriched with glucuronic acid, showed strong anti-adhesive properties against H. pylori and P. gingivalis (inhibition 60-70%). Pelargonium sidoides extract, containing mainly polymeric proanthocyanidins, was effective against H. pylori in a dose-dependent manner. Due to the multifunctional adhesive strategy of C. albicans, no effective compounds were detected against this yeast. Structure-activity relationships are presented and the potential in-vivo use of carbohydrate-based anti-adhesives is discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Münster, Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Hittorfstrasse 56, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wittschier
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lengsfeld
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vorthems
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stratmann
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Verspohl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hensel
mesh_terms: D028483:Abelmoschus / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D002645:Chickens; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D031316:Pelargonium / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D016966:Porphyromonas gingivalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D002241:Carbohydrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D044945:Proanthocyanidins