title: Oral supplementation of trans-cinnamaldehyde reduces uropathogenic Escherichia coli colonization in a mouse model.
abstract: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the United States result in more than 7 million hospital visits per year. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is responsible for more than 80% of UTIs. Although antibiotics are the drug of choice to control UTIs, their repeated use has resulted in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant UPEC. Thus, there is a need for effective alternate strategies to control UPEC infections. This study investigated the efficacy of trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC), a food-grade molecule present in cinnamon, in reducing UPEC colonization and pathogenesis in the lower UTI. Female C57BL/6 mice (6-8 weeks old) were fed ad libitum with 0, 0·1, 0·2 and 0·4% TC containing mouse chow for 10 days. Following TC supplementation, animals were experimentally infected with UPEC by transurethral catheterization. Mice were euthanized on days 1, 2 and 4 postinfection, and the bladder, urethra and urine were collected for bacterial enumeration. Prophylactic TC supplementation significantly (P ≤ 0·05) reduced UPEC colonization in the urinary bladder and urethra compared to the control. Results indicate that TC could potentially be used as an oral supplement to control UPEC-associated lower UTIs, however, follow-up clinical trials are warranted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we have demonstrated that oral supplementation of trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC) reduced uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)-associated lower urinary tract infection (UTI) in mice. Specifically, in-feed supplementation of TC significantly decreased UPEC populations in the urethra and bladder, thereby reducing the infectious load. These findings are particularly significant given the increase in incidence and prevalence of antibiotic-resistant UTIs. Our study offers new insights into the potential use of natural antimicrobials including TC, the active ingredient in cinnamon, as a nonantibiotic-based natural dietary intervention in the prophylaxis of lower UTIs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Muyyarikkandy
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mooyottu
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Venkitanarayanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: M A R
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Amalaradjou
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D056689:Uropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000171:Acrolein; C012843:cinnamaldehyde
keywords: lower urinary tract infections; mice; trans-cinnamaldehyde; transurethral catheterization; uropathogenic Escherichia coli