cranberries comprise nearly 90% water - however cranberries also contain various organic substances including catechin, flavonoids, anthocyanins and many organic acids
there has been no definite mechanism of action established for cranberry in the treatment or prevention of UTIs
the main proposed mechanism is that cranberry inhibits the adhesion of infecting bacteria (e.g. Escherichia coli) to the uroepithelium
if the adhesion of adhesion, E. coli, for example, is inhibited then the bacteria cannot infect the mucosal surface of the urinary tract
two components of cranberry inhibit adhesion in vitro:
proanthocyanidins - inhibits the adherence of p-fimbriated (alpha-galactose-(1-4) specific) E. coli
fructose - inhibits adherence of type 1 (mannose-specific) fimbriated E. coli
other suggested mechanisms of action proposed for cranberry include its ability to acidify urine and the antiseptic effect of some of its contents, such as hippuric acid - however these suggested mechanisms are less plausible than the effect on bacterial adhesion (1)
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