Grapes may help ease digestive problems
By Better Health Research News Desk • Mar 18th, 2009 • Category: Health News, Health Resources News, Inflammation
A new study has found that grape extract may play a role in reducing the impact of harmful digestive tract bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
Researchers from Clemson University in South Carolina found the link that was previously established for garlic, broccoli, cranberries and green tea as well.
They tested antibacterial effects of extracts from red, white, black and muscadine grapes as well as the pure compounds resveratrol, ellagic acid and myricetin for anti-H. pylori activity using agar dilution, laser scanning microscopy and cell proliferation.
Grapes are a rich source of antioxidants and polyphenols, known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
The scientists found that muscadine grape skin extract had the best effect, followed by muscadine grape synergy and seed extract.
This finding is particularly important because it may reduce sufferers’ dependence on antibiotics, currently the only available treatment, which, however, is associated with growing resistance and does not prevent relapses.
H. pylori is responsible for many cases of gastritis, or stomach inflammation, which in some cases may lead to more serious conditions, including gastric cancer.
Grape-seed extracts are also available in the form of nutritional supplements. 
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