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Antibacterial effect of kaempferol and (−)-epicatechin on Helicobacter pylori

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Abstract

Phenolic compounds are generated by the secondary metabolism of plants and have been associated with antibacterial properties. Among bacteria affecting human health, Helicobacter pylori has been associated with gastric cancer. There is limited information about the effect of individual or grouped phenolics on H. pylori growth. Previous studies have evaluated the effect of phenolics being part of highly complex food or beverage matrices. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial effect of kaempferol and (−)-epicatechin, both individually and combined, on H. pylori in liquid and solid cultures and in co-cultures with AGS human gastric carcinoma cells. Bacterial viability tests were performed in liquid cultures with subsequent CFU/mL counting and in solid cultures by measuring inhibition haloes. Kinetic curves of bacterial growth inhibition in the presence of those phenolics, and the protective effect of (−)-epicatechin on AGS cells against H. pylori infection were characterized. (−)-Epicatechin and kaempferol displayed antibacterial activities, being (−)-epicatechin more effective than kaempferol. After the combined application of both phenols, a synergistic effect of kaempferol plus low but not high doses of (−)-epicatechin was observed. Finally, (−)-epicatechin yielded protection to AGS cells against H. pylori infection. (−)-Epicatechin and kaempferol, both individually and combined, have antibacterial properties and protective effect on H. pylori infection.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially funded by Program U-INICIA VID 2011 (EO) and by grants University of Chile 11/05 (EO) and Fondecyt-Chile 1120126 (HT). We would also want to thank Mr. Nicanor Villaroel for his technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine-ICBM, University of Chile, Independencia 1027, Santiago, Chile

    Ricardo A. Escandón, Miguel del Campo, Remigio López-Solis & Héctor Toledo

  2. Department of Agro-Industry and Enology, Faculty of Agronomical Sciences, University of Chile, P.O. Box 1004, Santiago, Chile

    Ricardo A. Escandón & Elías Obreque-Slier

Authors
  1. Ricardo A. Escandón
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  2. Miguel del Campo
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  3. Remigio López-Solis
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  4. Elías Obreque-Slier
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  5. Héctor Toledo
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Elías Obreque-Slier or Héctor Toledo.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Compliance with ethics requirements

The study was conducted according to the recommendations of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile.

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Escandón, R.A., del Campo, M., López-Solis, R. et al. Antibacterial effect of kaempferol and (−)-epicatechin on Helicobacter pylori . Eur Food Res Technol 242, 1495–1502 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-016-2650-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-016-2650-z

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