title: Cranberry components for the therapy of infectious disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine C, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shmuely
authors.forename: Itzhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ofek
authors.forename: Ervin I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Zichria
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rones
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Houri-Haddad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001628:Beverages; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D029799:Vaccinium macrocarpon / Q000737:chemistry*