Researchers at Canada's McGill University have uncovered what could be a
pretty ШУУД ҮЗЭХ sweet way of
warding off bacteria. The scientists developed a concentrated extract of maple syrup and combined it with antibiotics, finding that it heightened bacteria's vulnerability, suggesting it could prove an effective way of lowering dosages required to treat infections and help to hamper the evolution of drug-resistant superbugs.
Starting with off-the-shelf maple syrup from a Montreal market, the
scientists first froze the product and then extracted a concentrate rich
in molecules known as phenolic compounds.
They then exposed various strains of bacteria to the extract, such as E. coliand Proteus mirabilis,
a common culprit of urinary tract infection. When used on its own, the
researchers found the extract to have a small effect on the bacteria,
but using it in conjunction with common antibiotics saw it take on a
whole new level of functionality.
The maple syrup extract served to break down the membrane around the
bacteria, its protective layer that repels the efforts of the
antibiotics. Furthermore, the extract also neutralizes tiny pumps inside
the bacteria that are normally used to push the antibiotics away. The
researchers also found that when paired with antibiotics, the maple
syrup extract was able to destroy bacterial biofilm, communities of
bacteria that cling to each other on a surface.
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