Background: Cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon L) contains a mixture of phytochemicals such as flavonoids which consist of flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, catechins, phenolic acids, and triterpenoids, all of which have possible antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral) activity. 

Aim: This study aimed to determine the antibacterial effect of the ethanol extract of cranberry juice (CJ) against uropathogen commonly found in urinary tract infections (UTIs) associated with pregnancy. 

Methods: Cranberry fruits were purchased from local markets and juiced, filtered, and dried. The dried powder was extracted with 70% ethanol for 8–10 days. The bacterial isolates used in this study [Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus sp., and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS)] were collected from the Maternity and Children Hospital in Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq. The antibacterial activity of the ethanol extract of CJ was measured using a standard Disc diffusion method. Sterile paper discs were soaked in 20 μl of different concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg/ml) of the extract, placed in Mueller–Hinton agar plates, and inoculated with bacterial cultures adjusted to 0.5 McFarland standards. Amoxicillin (30 μg) was used as a positive control, and 70% ethanol was used as a negative control. 

Results: The ethanol solution of CJ displayed a significant (p < 0.05) inhibitory activity against all tested bacteria. The CNS showed the highest sensitivity with 100% inhibition, followed by S. aureus (90%), Enterococcus sp. (85%), P. vulgaris (75%), and E. coli (60%). The effect was dose dependent, as increasing the extract concentration resulted in broader inhibition zones. 

Conclusion: The results show that the ethanol extract of CJ has potent antibacterial activity against uropathogenic bacteria, suggesting a possible role for CJ ethanol extract in treating UTIs when combined with recently emerging facts about increasing antibiotic resistance.

INTRODUCTION. Elimination of microorganisms from the root canal system is an important consideration in endodontic treatment and hence use of irrigants with adequate antimicrobial and antifungal properties is an enormously essential factor. However, an optimal root canal irrigant remains unidentified within the current scientific literature. Herbal alternatives are garnering increasing interest due to their potential benefits, including biocompatibility, antimicrobial properties, and reduced adverse effects compared to conventional chemical irrigants. AIM. To conduct a comparative evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of cranberry extract, sodium hypochlorite (5.25%), and chlorhexidine digluconate (2%) when used as root canal irrigants in vitro against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. 

MATERIALS AND METHODS. Based on the irrigating solution used, 24 premolars were divided into 3 groups (8 in each group), Group I - cranberry extract irrigant, Group II - Sodium hypochlorite (5.25%), Group III - Chlorhexidine digluconate (2%). The teeth were sectioned at the cemento-enamel junction, and they were incubated with primary culture of E. faecalis and C. albicans and irrigated using 2 ml of the respective irrigants. Pre and post irrigation microbiological sample collection were done using paper points. 

RESULTS. Sodium hypochlorite as a root canal irrigant has shown highest antimicrobial efficacy against E. faecalis and C. albicans, followed by Chlorhexidine digluconate group, and the least was with Cranberry extract group. CONCLUSIONS. Cranberry extract as a root canal irrigant has shown considerable activity against the root canal pathogens, however, is not as efficacious as sodium hypochlorite or chlorhexidine digluconate.

The search has been ongoing for safe and effective antimicrobial agents for control and prevention of oral biofilm associated with disease. Clinical trials for oral specific anti-bacterials are costly and often provide inconclusive results. The simple approach of ex vivo testing of these agents has not demonstrated utility, likely due to variability of effects observed even with a single donor. We show how shed oral biofilms, easily obtained from donor saliva, and tested under optimized conditions, respond reproducibly to anti-bacterial challenges measured by reductions in rRNA accumulation in susceptible taxa. Responses are in part donor specific, but many bacteria taxa were shown to be reproducibly susceptible over a group of donors. For two antibiotics, vancomycin and penicillin G tested at pharmacologic levels, a subset of Gram-positive bacteria was inhibited. A natural product with antibacterial properties, diluted Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) juice, was shown to inhibit a range of oral taxa, including Alloprevotella sp__HMT_473, Granulicatella adiacens, Lachnoanaerobaculum umeaense, Lepotrichia sp__HMT_215, Peptostreptococcus stomatis, Prevotella nanceiensis, Stomatobaculum sp__HMT_097, Veillonella parvula, and kill some targets. The model discussed in this study has promise as a rapid, precise, and reproducible ex vivo method to test and identify potential clinically useful antimicrobial agents active against the oral biofilm community.

The increasing resistance of microorganisms to currently used antimicrobials requires the urgent development of new effective treatments. Plant-based natural products can be an alternative solution. The aerial plant parts of the cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) present a potential new source of antimicrobial secondary metabolites. Volatile essential oils were extracted from Stevens, Early Black, and Mullica Queen variety plants by steam distillation (SD) and the Clevenger method (CM), and their profiles were characterized by GC-MS. The extracts and two identified constituents, cinnamaldehyde and terpineol, were screened by the disc diffusion assay against Gram-positive B. cereus ATCC 11778 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 and Gram-negative bacteria E. coli ATCC 25922, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and C. albicans ATCC 14053. Radical scavenging antioxidant activity was also determined using the DPPH assay. The CM extracts were rich in fatty acids, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes, whereas the SD extracts contained more aldehydes, monoterpenes, and phenylpropanoids. All volatile extracts showed promising antioxidant activity; leaf extract activity was significantly higher than the vine (p < 0.05). The CM leaf and vine extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against B. cereus, S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans compared to the SD, and the leaf extracts were more effective than the vine extracts. Individual constituents of leaf and vine extracts, cinnamaldehyde and alpha -terpineol, also showed antimicrobial activity against these organisms. The active constituents of the CM extracts are yet to be identified. A multivariate analysis revealed a particular pattern of inhibition of the tested organisms. Based on our results, cranberry volatile extracts have potential for future valorization as antibacterials, antifungals, and antioxidants.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common gynecological condition primarily caused by Candida albicans. The excessive use of antifungal drugs has led to increased drug resistance, necessitating the search for alternative therapies. This study investigates the synergistic antifungal effects of cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs) and probiotics against C. albicans. PACs were prepared at different concentrations (low, medium, high) and tested alone and in combination with multi-strain probiotics, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus plantarum. The antifungal activity of their cell-free supernatants (CFS) was also assessed. The results demonstrated that the combination of L. plantarum and medium-concentration PACs (L.p. + PACs M) significantly enhance inhibition of C. albicans compared to individual treatments. In the Vaginal Microbiota Communities Analysis, this condition reduced C. albicans relative abundance to below 0.01%. This study highlights the potential of natural compounds and probiotics as alternative therapeutic strategies for VVC

Background: Cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon L) contains a mixture of phytochemicals like flavonoids which consist of flavonoids, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, catechins, phenolic acids, and triterpenoids, all of which have possible antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral) activity. Aim: This study aimed to determine the antibacterial effect of the ethanol extract of cranberry juice against uropathogen commonly found in urinary tract infections (UTIs) associated with pregnancy. 

Methods: Cranberry fruits were purchased from local markets and juiced, filtered, and dried. The dried powder was extracted with 70% ethanol for 8-10 days. The bacterial isolates used in this study (Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus sp., and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CNS)) were collected from the Maternity and Children Hospital in Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq. The antibacterial activity of the ethanol extract of cranberry juice was measured using a standard Disc diffusion method. Sterile paper discs were soaked in 20 micro L of different concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg/ml) of the extract, placed in Mueller-Hinton agar plates, and inoculated with bacterial cultures adjusted to 0.5 McFarland standards. Amoxicillin (30 micro g) was used as a positive control, and 70% ethanol was used as negative control. 

Results: The ethanol solution of cranberry juice displayed a significant (p < 0.05) inhibitory activity against all tested bacteria. The CNS showed the highest sensitivity with 100% inhibition, followed by S. aureus (90%), Enterococcus sp. (85%), P. vulgaris (75%), and E. coli (60%). The effect was dose dependent, as increasing the extract concentration resulted in broader inhibition zones. 

Conclusion: The results show that the ethanol extract of cranberry juice has potent antibacterial activity against uropathogenic bacteria, suggesting a possible role for cranberry juice ethanol extract in treating UTIs when combined with recently emerging facts about increasing antibiotic resistance.

Helicobacter pylori poses a major threat to human health, primarily due to its tumorigenic potential and ability to cause tissue damage. Because of its strong association with gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, H. pylori is classified as a class I carcinogen. Its eradication has become a challenge due to increasing antibiotic resistance rates. This implies the need to investigate nutritional factors for their anti-H. pylori effects. This study aimed to encompass data regarding anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-adhesive, anti-ulcer, anti-urease and anti-cancer properties of seven non-antibiotic agents against H. pylori. We assessed articles in English using Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar, focusing mostly on recent publications. There are data pointing to the strong anti-adhesive action of cranberry, green tea and Arthrospira (Spirulina) spp. The anti-ulcer effect of green tea, Nigella sativa and microalgae was demonstrated in rat models. Cranberry, microalgae, honey and curcumin inhibit the urease activity of H. pylori. Propolis, green tea and curcumin interfere with the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway, while the last two as well as Arthrospira spp. inhibit cyclooxygenase-2. There are in vivo clinical trials indicating that cranberry, Nigella sativa, broccoli and curcumin can improve the success of eradication regimens, while honey showed a preventive effect. Additional trials are needed to determine the precise dose regimens and whether the natural or encapsulated product is more effective. Potential side effects and drug-drug interactions should be taken into account.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers present a formidable challenge due to colonization by biofilm-forming microorganisms, heightened oxidative stress, and continuous wound maceration caused by excessive exudation. 

Methods: To address these issues, we developed a robust, stretchable, electro-conductive, self-healing, antioxidant, and antibiofilm hydrogel. This hydrogel was synthesized through the crosslinking of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CH) with boric acid. To enhance its antimicrobial efficacy, graphene oxide (GO), produced via electrochemical exfoliation in a zinc ion-based electrolyte medium, was incorporated. For optimal antibiofilm performance, GO was functionalized with cranberry (CR) phenolic extracts, forming a graphene oxide-cranberry nanohybrid (GO-CR). 

Results: The incorporation of GO-CR into the hydrogel significantly improved its stretchability (280% for PVA/CH/GO-CR compared to 200% for PVA/CH). Additionally, the hydrogel demonstrated efficient photothermal conversion under near-infrared (NIR) light, enabling dynamic exudate removal, which is expected to minimize retained exudate between the wound and the dressing, reducing the risk of wound maceration. The hydrogel effectively reduced levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced skin inflammation markers, significantly lowering the expression of NLRP3, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta by 39.2%, 31.9%, 41%, and 52.3%, respectively. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses further confirmed reduced inflammation and enhanced wound healing. 

Conclusion: The PVA/CH/GO-CR hydrogel exhibits multifunctional properties that enhance wound healing ulcers. Its superior mechanical, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties and ability to promote angiogenesis make it a promising candidate for effective wound management in diabetic patients. Copyright © 2024 Elhabal et al.

The phytochemical diversity and potential health benefits of V. oxycoccos and V. macrocarpon fruits call for further scientific inquiry. Our study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition of extracts from these fruits and assess their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties in vitro. It was found that the ethanolic extracts of V. oxycoccos and V. macrocarpon fruits, which contained more lipophilic compounds, had 2-14 times lower antioxidant activity compared to the dry aqueous extracts of cranberry fruit, which contained more hydrophilic compounds. All tested cranberry fruit extracts (OE, OW, ME, and MW) significantly inhibited the growth of bacterial strains S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli, and K. pneumoniae in vitro compared to the control. Cytotoxic activity against the human prostate carcinoma PPC-1 cell line, human renal carcinoma cell line (CaKi-1), and human foreskin fibroblasts (HF) was determined using an MTT assay. Furthermore, the effect of the cranberry fruit extract samples on cell migration activity, cancer spheroid growth, and viability was examined. The ethanolic extract from V. macrocarpon fruits (ME) showed higher selectivity in inhibiting the viability of prostate and renal cancer cell lines compared to fibroblasts. It also effectively hindered the migration of these cancer cell lines. Additionally, the V. macrocarpon fruit extract (ME) demonstrated potent cytotoxicity against PPC-1 and CaKi-1 spheroids, significantly reducing the size of PPC-1 spheroids compared to the control. These findings suggest that cranberry fruit extracts, particularly the ethanolic extract from V. macrocarpon fruits, have promising potential as natural remedies for bacterial infections and cancer therapy.

Microbial biofilms are resilient, immune-evasive, often antibiotic-resistant health challenges, and increasingly the target for research into novel therapeutic strategies. We evaluated the effects of a nutraceutical enzyme and botanical blend (NEBB) on established biofilm. Five microbial strains with known implications in chronic human illnesses were tested: Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus simulans (coagulase-negative, penicillin-resistant), Borrelia burgdorferi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The strains were allowed to form biofilm in vitro. Biofilm cultures were treated with NEBB containing enzymes targeted at lipids, proteins, and sugars, also containing the mucolytic compound N-acetyl cysteine, along with antimicrobial extracts from cranberry, berberine, rosemary, and peppermint. The post-treatment biofilm mass was evaluated by crystal-violet staining, and metabolic activity was measured using the MTT assay. Average biofilm mass and metabolic activity for NEBB-treated biofilms were compared to the average of untreated control cultures. Treatment of established biofilm with NEBB resulted in biofilm-disruption, involving significant reductions in biofilm mass and metabolic activity for Candida and both Staphylococcus species. For B. burgdorferi, we observed reduced biofilm mass, but the remaining residual biofilm showed a mild increase in metabolic activity, suggesting a shift from metabolically quiescent, treatment-resistant persister forms of B. burgdorferi to a more active form, potentially more recognizable by the host immune system. For P. aeruginosa, low doses of NEBB significantly reduced biofilm mass and metabolic activity while higher doses of NEBB increased biofilm mass and metabolic activity. The results suggest that targeted nutraceutical support may help disrupt biofilm communities, offering new facets for integrative combinational treatment strategies.