According
to the findings of the researchers at McGill University, combining the
concentrated extract of maple syrup with common antibiotics could increase the
microbe's susceptibility, leading to lower antibiotic usage. Overuse of
antibiotics fuels the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, which has become a
major public-health concern worldwide.
Prof.
Nathalie Tufenkji's research team prepared a concentrated extract of maple
syrup that consists mainly of phenolic compounds. Maple syrup, made by
concentrating the sap from North American maple trees, is a rich source of
phenolic compounds. The researchers tested the extract's effect in the
laboratory on infection-causing strains of certain bacteria, including E. coli
and Proteus mirabilis (a common cause of urinary tract infection). The syrup
extract was particularly effective when applied in combination with
antibiotics. The extract also acted synergistically with antibiotics in
destroying resistant communities of bacteria known as biofilms, which are
common in difficult-to-treat infections, such as catheter-associated urinary
tract infections.
Tufenkji
said that the findings suggest a potentially simple and effective approach for
reducing antibiotic usage. The scientists also found that the extract affects
the gene expression of the bacteria, by repressing a number of genes linked
with antibiotic resistance and virulence.
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