Introduction: Escherichia coli is the most common pathogen isolated from the urine of dogs with urinary tract infections (UTIs). While there are many studies in humans investigating the potential for the prevention of UTIs by dietary consumption of cranberry, few analogous studies have been carried out in dogs. 

Material and Methods: Eight dogs, four male and four female, were successively fed two diets, first a control without cranberry, and then the second diet containing cranberry extracts. Naturally excreted urine was collected on the tenth day after the start of each diet for 24 h and used for bacterial growth. MadinDarby canine kidney cell adherence by the uropathogenic E. coli G1473 strain expressing type 1 pili and positive for P pili and haemolysin gene markers was quantified after growth in urine samples. 

Results: Significant reductions in bacterial adherence to MDCK cells (from -16.5 to -73.4%, P < 0.05) were observed in the four females but not in the males after consumption of the cranberry extracts compared to the same animals consuming the control diet. 

Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with cranberry may provide some degree of protection to female dogs against adhesion of uropathogenic E. coli to urinary epithelial cells.

Background and Aims: Cranberry products are beneficial in erectile dysfunction (ED). Therefore, we assessed the impact of Cranberry fruit extract (Cranberry-E) on in vivo erectile response and in vitro relaxant responses in the corpus cavernosum (CC).Methods: Rats (n=10) were divided into control and diabetic groups. In vivo erectile function was measured following intracavernosal injection of Cranberry-E. The relaxation responses to Cranberry-E were obtained after pre-contraction with phenylephrine (Phe, 10 mu M) and KCl (60 mM). Cranberry-E caused relaxant responses in the incubation with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blocker (L-NAME, 100 mu M) and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) blocker (ODQ, 30 mu M), and relaxation responses of cavernosal tissue were calculated before and after the incubation with Cranberry-E.

Results: Erectile responses were significantly reduced in diabetic animals as compared to controls (p<0.001), which was normalized after the intracavernous administration of Cranberry-E. There was no difference in the relaxation responses to Cranberry-E between the control and diabetic groups. Cranberry-E induced the relaxation of cavernosal tissue, which remained unaltered in the presence of L-NAME and ODQ. Relaxation responses to Cranberry decreased after KCl-induced precontraction (p<0.001). The relaxation of cavernosal tissue increased after Cranberry-E incubation.

Conclusion: Cranberry-E improved diabetes-induced ED and induced relaxation of cavernosal tissue via a nitric oxide-independent mechanism. Thus, cranberry consumption is likely to be effective as a potential strategy to prevent diabetes-induced ED.

REVIEW COMPOSITION AND HEALTH BENEFTIS Cranberries are well-known berry fruits and a member of Ericaceae family. It is a potential source of bioactive components including phenolic acids, flavonols, organic acids, pentacyclic triterpenoids, anthocyanins, etc. Until now, several scientific researches uncovered the positive role of cranberry consumption to suppress human diseases including obesity, diabetes, microbial infection, hepatotoxicity, hypertensive and cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and cancer. This review focused on the chemical components of cranberries, as well as comprehensively explored the biological capabilities of cranberries based on recent findings. Furthermore, the health benefits of cranberries were also discussed based on recent clinical studies. Our review reported that cranberries are a rich source of various minerals, vitamins, organic acids, sugars, and polyphenols. Cranberries exert potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-cancer activity via regulating several signaling pathways such as PI3K/ Akt/Nrf2, Nrf2/ARE, PI3K/Akt/COX-2, TLR4-NF-kB-p38 MAPK, JAK-STAT, PPARs, TGF beta/Smad, ACE I, and others. Among all bioactivities, antimicrobial activity of cranberries is promising due to bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and antibiofilm properties. Recent clinical studies further confirmed the health benefits and safety, though extensive clinical research is recommended to ensure these effects at the clinical level. Apart from this, consumption of cranberries and their products is suggested because of the rich source of bioactive components to ameliorate biological disorders.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the effect of cranberry extract used in patients with single urinary tract infections. 

METHODS: Patients with simple-type urinary tract infections were divided into two groups. Treatment with fosfomycin or cranberry tablet was started. On days 1, 3, and 7 of the treatment, whether there was a decrease in the complaints was evaluated with a Likert-type scale. The recovery status of urinary tract infections and the well-being of patients were compared via antibiotic and cranberry groups. 

RESULTS: After the treatment, the leukocyte levels of the cranberry users were at the same level as those of the other group, and the rate of well-being and the portion of patients that reported to be very well on days 3 and 7 in the cranberry group was significantly higher compared with the fosfomycin group (p<0.05). 

CONCLUSION: Considering the results of this study, it was determined that the patient's complaints decreased from day 3 and their well-being increased with the use of cranberry only. Specifically, on day 7, the well-being of the cranberry group was higher than that of the fosfomycin group. For this reason, cranberry is a favorable alternative to antibiotics in uncomplicated and simple urinary tract infections.

Context: Anticariogenic properties have been ascribed to polyphenolic compounds present in high concentrations in numerous fruits. Berries, in particular, have been reported as potentially having an inhibitory effect on the dental biofilm and subsequently on caries, but the evidence is unclear. 

Objective: The objective of this review was to explore the literature and summarize the evidence for berries having an inhibitory effect on the dental biofilm and an anticariogenic effect. 

Data Sources: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, the PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases were scanned using predefined and accessible terms, with a search strategy based on a structured PICO question. 

Data Extraction: After article selection, 23 studies met the inclusion criteria, most of them being in vitro studies. A risk assessment was performed, and data were extracted and presented in a table for qualitative analysis. 

Data Analysis: Meta-analyses were conducted using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) by Review manager 5.4. 

Results: Only 3 types of berries were found to have a reported anticaries effect: grape seed extract (GSE), cranberry, and sour cherry. Nine studies that fulfilled the eligibility criteria were subjected to quantitative analysis. Meta-analyses showed GSE was associated with enhanced remineralization of dental enamel (SMD = .96 95% CI [.45, 1.46], P < .0002) and of dentin (SMD = .65 95% CI [.13, 1.17], P = .01). Cranberry extracts positively influenced the cariogenic dental biofilm by decreasing the biofilm biomass (SMD = -2.23 95% CI [-4.40, -.05], P = .04), and biovolume (SMD = -2.86 95% CI [-4.34, -1.37], P = .0002), and increasing the biofilm pH (SMD = 7.9 95% CI [3.49, 12.31], P < .0004). 

Conclusion: Within the limitations of this systematic review and metaanalysis, GSE and cranberries or their active compounds could represent an alternative for caries management. Further clinical trials are needed to verify this effect in a clinical setting. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020223579.

Natural products are well-known due to their antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of Desplac (R) product (composed of Aloe Vera, Propolis Extract, Green Tea, Cranberry, and Calendula) on the subgingival biofilm. Two different protocols were used to treat the 33-species biofilms: (A) 2x/day (12/12 h) for 1 min with Desplac (R) or Noplak Toothpaste (Chlorhexidine + Cetylpyridinium Chloride) or Oral B ProGengiva (stannous Fluoride) or a placebo gel; (B) a 12-h use of the Desplac (R) product or 0.12% chlorhexidine gel or a placebo gel. After 7 days of biofilm formation, the metabolic activity (MA) and biofilm profile were determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Checker-board DNA-DNA hybridization, respectively. Statistical analysis used the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's post-hoc. In protocol A, all treatments presented reduced MA compared to the placebo (p <= 0.05). The Desplac (R)-treated biofilm showed a similar microbial profile to other antimicrobials, although with higher bacterial total counts. In protocol B, MA of Desplac (R)-treated biofilms was lower than the placebo's MA but higher than chlorhexidine-treated biofilms (p <= 0.05). Pathogen levels in Desplac (R)-treated biofilms were lower than in placebo-treated biofilms and elevated compared to the chlorhexidine-treated biofilms (p <= 0.05). Desplac (R) inhibited the biofilm development and disrupted the mature subgingival biofilm, highlighting its effect on Tannerella forsythia counts.

Clinical trials investigating the health effects of flavan-3-ols yield heterogeneous results due to interindividual variability in the gut microbiota metabolism. In fact, different groups in the population have similar metabolic profiles following (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin gut microbial metabolism and can be regrouped into so-called metabotypes. In this study, the capacity of 34 donors to metabolize polymeric B-type flavan-3-ols from aronia and oligomeric A-type flavan-3-ols from cranberry is investigated by in vitro fecal batch fermentations. Less than 1% of the flavan-3-ols from both sources are converted into microbial metabolites, such as phenyl-gamma-valerolactones (PVLs). To further confirm this result, gut microbial metabolites from flavan-3-ols are quantified in urine samples collected from participants, before and after a 4-day supplementation of cranberry extract providing 82.3 mg of flavan-3-ols per day. No significant difference is observed in the urinary excretion of flavan-3-ols microbial metabolites. Hence, it demonstrates by both in vitro and in vivo approaches that flavan-3-ols from aronia and cranberry are poorly degraded by the gut microbiota. The beneficial health impacts of these molecules likely stem from their capacity to affect gut microbiota and their interactions with the gut epithelium, rather than from their breakdown into smaller metabolites.

Purpose of Review: Current research has shown that berry-derived polymeric substrates that resist human digestion (dietary fibers and polyphenols) are extensively metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract dominated by microbiota. This review assesses current epidemiological, experimental, and clinical evidence of how berry (strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, cranberry, black currant, and grapes) phytochemicals interact with the microbiome and shape health or metabolic risk factor outcomes.

Recent Findings: There is growing evidence that the compositional differences among complex carbohydrate fractions and classes of polyphenols define reversible shifts in microbial populations and human metabolome to promote gastrointestinal health. Interventions to prevent gastrointestinal inflammation and improve metabolic outcomes may be achieved with selection of berries that provide distinct polysaccharide substrates for selective multiplication of beneficial microbiota or oligomeric decoys for binding and elimination of the pathogens, as well as phenolic substrates that hold potential to modulate gastrointestinal mucins, reduce luminal oxygen, and release small phenolic metabolites signatures capable of ameliorating inflammatory and metabolic perturbations. These mechanisms may explain many of the differences in microbiota and host gastrointestinal responses associated with increased consumption of berries and highlight potential opportunities to intentionally shift gut microbiome profiles or to modulate risk factors associated with better nutrition and health outcomes.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a group of dysmetabolic conditions, including abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance and/or insulin resistance, and hypertension. Generally, MetS is accompanied by an exacerbation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and vascular dysfunction. Increasing evidence suggests that berries and berry bioactives could play a potential role in the prevention and mitigation of the risk factors associated with MetS. The present systematic review summarizes the more recently available evidence deriving from human intervention studies investigating the effect of berries in subjects with at least three out of five MetS parameters. The PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases were systematically searched from January 2010 until December 2022. A total of 17 human intervention trials met the inclusion criteria. Most of them were focused on blueberry (n = 6), cranberry (n = 3), and chokeberry (n = 3), while very few or none were available for the other berries. If considering MetS features, the main positive effects were related to lipid profile (low and high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, and triglycerides) following blueberries and chokeberries, while conflicting results were documented for anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose levels. Other markers analyzed within the studies included vascular function, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Here, the main positive effects were related to inflammation with a reduction in interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha following the intake of different berries. In conclusion, although limited, the evidence seems to support a potential role for berries in the modulation of lipid profile and inflammation in subjects with MetS. Furthermore, high-quality intervention trials are mandatory to demonstrate the role of berries in reducing risk factors for MetS and related conditions. In the future, such a demonstration could bring the adoption of berries as a potential dietary strategy to prevent/counteract MetS and related risk factors.