Various foods, such as walnuts, contain ellagic acid, a molecule that can inhibit the growth of micro-organisms including pathogens, thereby helping fight against bacterial infections.

A recent study on the properties of this molecule was conducted by the University of Milan in collaboration with the Italian University of Switzerland in Bellinzona, and was published in the Pharmaceutics scientific journal.

Ellagic acid is found naturally in various foods, such as walnuts, forest fruits, redcurrants, goji berries, strawberries, grapes, pomegranate, pistachios and cashews.

This molecule is very important because it can inhibit the formation of biofilm, a sort of protective structure that allows micro-organisms, including pathogens, to survive in sub-optimal conditions (lack of nutrients, the host’s defences and the presence of antimicrobials such as antibiotics), including inside the human body. 

Due to their resilience, biofilms are a significant factor that affects the persistence of both fungal and bacterial infections.

This study also showed that ellagic acid acts as an anti-biofilm agent, without encouraging drug resistance.

It is hoped that, in the future, other similar studies can lead to the development of more effective treatments against infections associated with pathogenic microbial biofilms, with the general goal of counteracting the resistance of micro-organisms to antibiotics.

In the meantime, let’s carefully choose what we include in our diet for our own good health!

Sources:

• Ratti A, Fassi EMA, Forlani F, Mori M, Villa F, Cappitelli F, Sgrignani J, Roda G, Cavalli A, Villa S, et al. Mechanistic Insights into the Antibiofilm Mode of Action of Ellagic Acid. Pharmaceutics. 2023; 15(6):1757. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15061757
• https://lastatalenews.unimi.it/frutta-verdura-dallacido-ellagico-aiuto-per-infezioni-resilienti