Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) is a fruit that has an inhibitory effect on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) present in dentin and saliva. The inhibition of MMPs has been shown to prevent dentin erosion. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of cranberry juice on the reduction of dentin erosion in vitro. Specimens of bovine dentin (4x4x2 mm) were randomized and divided into 4 groups (n = 17/group): distilled water (C-control, pH 7.2); green tea extract solution containing 400 microm epigallo-catechin-gallate (EGCg, positive control, pH 4.5); 10% cranberry extract (CrE, pH 3.9), and cranberry juice (CrJ, Cranberry JuxxTM, pH 2.8). Specimens were submitted to erosive pH cycles for 5 days. Each day, four demineralizations were carried out with 0.1% citric acid (90 s). After the acid challenges, specimens were rinsed and kept in treatment solutions for 1 min; afterwards, they were rinsed and stored in artificial saliva for 1 h at 37degreeC (or overnight at the end of each day). After the experimental period of 5 days, dentin loss was evaluated by contact profilometry. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test (p < 0.05). Dentin loss (microm +/- SD) was significantly lower for all treatments (EGCg = 9.93 +/- 2.90; CrE = 12.10 +/- 5.44; CrJ = 11.04 +/- 5.70) compared to control (21.23 +/- 11.96), but it did not significantly differ from each other. These results indicate that the commercial cranberry juice, despite its low pH, is able to reduce dentin erosion, which might be due to the ability of cranberry components to inhibit MMPs.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a rapidly growing global issue affecting the effective treatment of infectious diseases. This provides a window of opportunity for the use and implementation of well researched effective complementary therapies such as herbal medicines. In this literature review, an overview is provided of the effectiveness of herbal medicine to control symptoms of urinary tract in-fections and reduce antibiotic use.Methods: PubMed, CAM-Quest, CORE-Hom, ScienceDirect, CAMBase, Anthromedics.org and AnthroMedLi-brary databases were searched for peer-reviewed meta-analyses, systematic reviews and randomized con-trolled trials from 2005 till 8 October 2020. Included were clinical studies on the use of herbal medicine for clinically diagnosed urinary tract infection with any control group except another herbal medicine. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools.Results: Of the 408 citations identified, 23 met the inclusion criteria: 5 meta-analyses, 3 systematic re-views and 15 randomized controlled trials. Of these studies 13 involved the use of cranberry products, 4 studies concerned traditional Chinese herbal medicines, and 6 studies dealt with other herbal medicines.Conclusions: The latest published meta-analysis including 28 trials reports a clear benefit of Cranberry products for the prevention of recurrent UTIs in women. Five TCM formulas were found to be equally or more effective than antibiotics in the treatment of UTIs. Furthermore, Rosa canina seems to have the potential to prevent UTI in women undergoing a caesarean section. 'Acidif Plus Tablets' as well as 'Canephron' seem to be promising candidates for treating women with uncomplicated recurrent UTI.(c) 2022 Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ )

Aim: Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) are traditionally used in prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The authors' aim was to evaluate effects of a supplement containing cranberry extract, pumpkin seed extract, vitamin C, and vitamin B-2 on recurrent uncomplicated UTIs in women and their intestinal microbiota.Methods: A prospective, uncontrolled exploratory study was conducted in women with recurrent uncomplicated UTIs. The primary exploratory outcome was the number of UTIs in a 6-month prospective observation period compared with a 6-month retrospective period. Further outcomes included number of antibiotics, quality of life (SF-36), intestinal microbiota (assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing), and evaluation questions. Parameters were assessed at baseline and after 1, 2, and 7 months (start of intake of cranberry supplement after 1 month for 6 months). p-Values were calculated with the pairwise Wilcoxon signed-rank test for alpha diversity and permutational multivariate analysis of variance.Results: Twenty-three women (aged 52.7 +/- 12.4 years) were included in the study. Participants reported 2.2 +/- 0.8 UTIs (at baseline) in the previous 6 months. After 6 months of cranberry intake, participants reported a significant decrease to 0.5 +/- 0.9 UTIs (p < 0.001). Number of antibiotic therapies was also significantly (p < 0.001) reduced by 68% during 6 months of cranberry intake (0.14 +/- 0.35) when compared with 6 months retrospectively (1.14 +/- 0.71). The SF-36 physical component score increased from 44.9 +/- 5.5 at baseline to 45.7 +/- 4.6 at 7 months (p = 0.16). The SF-36 mental component score decreased slightly from the baseline value of 46.5 +/- 6.5 to 46.2 +/- 6.4 at 7 months (p = 0.74). No significant intragroup mean changes at genus, family, or species level for alpha and beta diversity within the intestinal microbiota were found. In the evaluation questions, participants rated the cranberry extract positively and considered it beneficial. The supplement intake was safe.Conclusions: This study shows that women with recurrent uncomplicated UTIs benefit from cranberry intake. Future larger clinical studies with further investigation of the mechanisms of action are required to determine the effects of cranberries on participants with uncomplicated UTIs.

Aims: Blueberry and cranberry are rich in polyphenols that are associated with diabetes reduction. This study aimed: 1) to systematically review the literature on the effects of blueberry and cranberry consumption and type 2 diabetes parameters in individuals with or without type 2 diabetes and 2) to quantify these effects by carrying out a meta-analysis.Data synthesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed using articles present in seven databases (PubMed, LILACS, Scielo, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Embase), including publications until May 2021. We included randomized clinical trials that compared blueberry or cranberry effects on type 2 diabetes parameters, such as fasting blood glucose, insulin resistance, and glycated hemoglobin. Quality of the studies was performed using the Cochrane scale, while the Egger test assessed the publication bias and meta-regression the estimated effect sizes with potential moderator variables. From the 2034 studies identified, 39 were read in full and 22 were included in meta-analysis. In individuals with diabetes, the consumption of blueberry or cranberry significantly reduced fasting blood glucose [MD: -17.72 mg/dl; 95% CI: -29.62, -5.82; p = 0.03; 12 = 57%] and glycated hemoglobin [MD: -0.32%; 95% CI: -0.57, -0.07; p = 0.15; 12 = 39%], whereas for insulin resistance the effects were null. Results were not significant for the general population, except in the sensitivity analysis for fasting blood glucose.Conclusions: The consumption of blueberry and cranberry significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels in individuals with diabetes, with high credibility of the evidence. (C) 2022 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aim/Background: Osteosarcoma is one of the prevalent cancers occurring mostly in adolescents and has a high risk of malignancy. With complications involved in the current treatment strategies, alternates including the use of phytochemicals have gained fame. Cranberries are known for their exceptional health benefits and have been explored for their effective activities in various cancers. The current study aimed at evaluating the anti-cancer properties of cranberry juice concentrate (CJC) on MG-63 cell line for human osteosarcoma, by investigating its apoptotic activity through changes in cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential. Materials and Methods: Cranberry juice concentrate was obtained by pulverization and lyophilization. The MG-63 cells were treated with 12.5-800 mu g/mL of the CJC and incubated for 24, 48, and 72 hr. The percentage cell viability and IC50 values were obtained. The mitochondrial membrane potential and nuclear changes were examined. The induction of apoptosis was studied by flow cytometer using BD cell Quest 7.5.3 software. GraphPad Prism was used for statistical analysis with significant p-value at <0.05. Results: The IC50 values obtained for CJC were 847.9, 637.4, and 440.6 mu g/mL for 24, 48, and 72 hr respectively. Change in the mitochondrial membrane potential and nuclear morphology was observed following incubation with CJC. Flow cytometric analysis shows cells detected at early and late apoptoic stages after treatment with CJC. Conclusion: Our result suggests that CJC has significant effects on MG-63 osteosarcoma cells and can be considered to supplement conventional therapeutic strategies.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a significant clinical problem that pregnant women and children commonly experience. Escherichia coli is the primary causative organism, along with several other gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Antimicrobial drugs are commonly prescribed to treat UTIs in these patients. Conventional treatment can range from using broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs for empirical or prophylactic therapy or patient-tailored therapy based on urinary cultures and sensitivity to prospective antibiotics. The ongoing emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens has raised concerns related to commonly prescribed antimicrobial drugs such as those used routinely to treat UTIs. Consequently, several natural medicines have been explored as potential complementary therapies to improve health outcomes in patients with UTIs. This review discusses the effectiveness of commonly used natural products such as cranberry juice/extracts, ascorbic acid, hyaluronic acid, probiotics, and multi-component formulations intended to treat and prevent UTIs. The combination of natural products with prescribed antimicrobial treatments and use of formulations that contained high amounts of cranberry extracts appear to be most effective in preventing recurrent UTIs (RUTIs). The incorporation of natural products like cranberry, hyaluronic acid, ascorbic acid, probiotics, Canephron (R) N, and Cystenium II to conventional treatments of acute UTIs or as a prophylactic regimen for treatment RUTIs can benefit both pregnant women and children. Limited information is available on the safety of natural products in these patients' populations. However, based on limited historical information, these remedies appear to be safe and well-tolerated by patients.

The emergence of bacteria resistant to antimicrobial agents has led to a shortage of options when choosing effective treatment agents. Further, some antibiotics used at therapeutic doses can produce undesired side effects.ABSTRACT Dental caries is caused by the buildup of acidic end products that result from the metabolism of dental plaque microbes. Natural products that are widely available could be used as an alternative or adjunctive anti-caries therapy. Sometimes, when two products are used together, they yield a more powerful antimicrobial effect than the anticipated additive effect. These synergistic combinations are often better treatment options because individual agents may not have sufficient antimicrobial action to be effective when used alone. Cranberries contain phenolic compounds like proanthocyanidins (PAC) that disrupt biofilm formation. Manuka honey has high concentrations of the agent methylglyoxal (MGO), which is cariostatic. Because these agents have varied modes of antimicrobial action, they show potential for possible synergistic effects when paired. Various cranberry extracts were tested pairwise with manuka honey or MGO by well-diffusion assays and 96-well checkerboard assays in the presence of Streptococcus mutans to test for synergy. Synergy was demonstrated in cranberry extracts Type R and RE when paired with manuka honey and MGO. The synergistic combinations found in this research thus can be considered candidates for the formulation of a dentifrice that could be used to inhibit the formation of dental plaque and thereby avoid the development of caries. IMPORTANCE The emergence of bacteria resistant to antimicrobial agents has led to a shortage of options when choosing effective treatment agents. Further, some antibiotics used at therapeutic doses can produce undesired side effects. An alternative to traditional antibiotics, natural antimicrobial agents can be used in combination to obtain synergistic outcomes without subjecting the patient to toxic or irritating doses of individual agents. Streptococcus mutans growth and biofilm formation are major contributors to the formation of dental caries. In this study, a synergistic combination of Manuka honey and cranberry extracts gives evidence that it can be used as an alternative or adjunctive anti-caries therapy.

Simple Summary Microbes present in the large intestine of humans and companion animals produce bioactive metabolites from host-ingested food. These bioactive metabolites can influence host health. A prior study in dogs that were healthy or had chronic enteritis/gastroenteritis showed that stool quality improved when they ate food containing a fiber bundle made from fibers of pecan shells, flax seed, cranberry, citrus, and beet. In addition, eating food containing the fiber bundle resulted in the gut bacteria shifting from digesting mainly protein to digesting mainly carbohydrates. The present study tested the impact of the fiber bundle at a lower range of concentrations in dogs. Fecal levels of several bioactive metabolites with beneficial antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties increased after dogs consumed food with the fiber bundle, though no changes in the bacteria or their functional pathways were observed. Stool quality remained in the acceptable range. These results suggest that the gut bacteria were able to digest the fiber bundle to produce beneficial bioactive metabolites to improve host health. This study assessed changes in canine fecal metabolites and microbiota with the consumption of foods with increasing concentrations of a fiber bundle including pecan shells, flax seed, and powders of cranberry, citrus, and beet that was previously shown (at 14% w/w) to improve stool quality, shift fecal bacterial metabolism from proteolysis to saccharolysis, increase abundance of saccharolytic bacteria, and decrease abundance of proteolytic bacteria. In this study, 48 healthy adult dogs were split evenly to consume different inclusion levels (0%, 1%, 2%, and 4%) of the fiber bundle for a 31-day period following a 28-day pre-feed period. Increases from baseline in the fecal short-chain fatty acids butyric acid, valeric acid, and hexanoic acid were observed only in the dogs that consumed the food with the 4% fiber bundle. With addition of any level of the fiber bundle, increases were seen in the polyphenols hesperidin, hesperetin, ponciretin, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, secoisolariciresinol, and enterodiol. However, fecal microbiota and their metabolism, and stool scores were largely unaffected by the fiber bundle. Overall, addition of the fiber bundle appeared to increase bioactive metabolites of increased antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potency for beneficial to health and, at levels >= 4%, shifted gut bacterial metabolism toward saccharolysis.

In this study, different amounts (from 2% to 4.5%) of dietary fiber-rich cranberry pomace (CP) were added to yogurt before or after fermentation to increase dietary fiber content without changing the textural properties of the product. The addition of CP reduced whey loss, improved the firmness and viscosity, increased the total phenol compound content and the antioxidant capacity values (DPPH center dot, ABTS, and ORAC) of the yogurt in a dose-dependent manner, and had no significant effect on the viability of the yogurt culture bacteria. For all CP-supplemented yogurt samples, the bioaccessibility index of the polyphenols after in vitro intestinal phase digestion was approximately 90%. However, yogurt with CP added before fermentation exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) lower degree of protein hydrolysis post-gastric and post-intestinal than the yogurt with CP added after fermentation. Yogurt supplemented with 4.5% CP could be considered a good antioxidant dairy product and a good source of dietary fiber.

Polyphenols show a spectrum of bioactive effects, including an influence on lipid metabolism. In this study, we performed activity-guided fractionations of black chokeberry (aronia), cranberry, and pomegranate extracts to identify the biologically active compounds. The extracts were prepared from fruit juice concentrates with the adsorbent resin Amberlite XAD-7 and were separated into a copigment and an anthocyanin fraction, followed by fractionation into a polymer and monomeric fraction by means of hexane precipitation. For further fractionation of the cranberry and pomegranate copigment fractions, high-performance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC) was used. The compounds in each fraction were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS), and the quantification was performed by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (UHPLC-DAD) analyses. Each of the (sub-)fractions was tested in three in vitro assays: phosphodiesterase 3B (PDE) activity, lipid accumulation, and lipolysis in 3T3-L1 cells. The results showed that various fractions and subfractions can inhibit lipid accumulation and PDE activity as well as increase lipolysis, particularly copigments. Overall, our results indicate an influence of polyphenol-rich (sub-)fractions on the lipid metabolism.