Bioactive berry compounds: Novel tools against human pathogens

Riitta Puupponen-Pimiä (Corresponding Author), Liisa Nohynek, Hanna-Leena Alakomi, Kirsi-Marja Oksman-Caldentey

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    254 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Berry fruits are rich sources of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and organic acids, which have antimicrobial activities against human pathogens. Among different berries and berry phenolics, cranberry, cloudberry, raspberry, strawberry and bilberry especially possess clear antimicrobial effects against, e.g. Salmonella and Staphylococcus. Complex phenolic polymers, like ellagitannins, are strong antibacterial agents present in cloudberry and raspberry. Several mechanisms of action in the growth inhibition of bacteria are involved, such as destabilisation of cytoplasmic membrane, permeabilisation of plasma membrane, inhibition of extracellular microbial enzymes, direct actions on microbial metabolism and deprivation of the substrates required for microbial growth. Antimicrobial activity of berries may also be related to antiadherence of bacteria to epithelial cells, which is a prerequisite for colonisation and infection of many pathogens. Antimicrobial berry compounds may have important applications in the future as natural antimicrobial agents for food industry as well as for medicine. Some of the novel approaches are discussed.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)8 - 18
    Number of pages11
    JournalApplied Microbiology and Biotechnology
    Volume67
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2005
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Keywords

    • berries
    • cranberry
    • cloudberry
    • raspberry
    • strawberry
    • bilberry
    • antimicrobial effects
    • antimicrobial agents
    • Salmonella
    • Staphylococcus
    • phenolic polymers
    • ellagitannins

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