Forskolin reduces urinary tract infections

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Forskolin reduces urinary tract infections

 

In a letter published online on April 8, 2007 in the journal Nature

Medicine, Soman Abraham and his associates at Duke University Medical

Center described their finding that an over the counter extract of the

Indian coleus plant known as forskolin can significantly reduce urinary

tract infections and could enhance the ability of antibiotics to destroy

E. coli, the bacteria that cause most bladder infections. The herb is

currently an ingredient in some body-building products, and is used to

enhance lean body mass.

 

" This herb has been used in Asia for centuries for a wide variety of

ailments, " Dr Abraham said. " However, one of its constant uses has been

for treating painful urination. "

 

In several experiments using mice, the Duke team found that some

bacteria retreat to cells lining the bladder where antibiotics cannot

reach them. " After customary antibiotic treatment, the vast majority of

the bacteria are either killed by the antibiotics or eliminated during

urination, " Dr Abraham explained.

 

" However, there are small numbers of bacteria that survive antibiotic

treatment because they sneak into the lining of the bladder, waiting for

the opportunity, after antibiotic treatment, to come out and start

multiplying again. "

 

Although the lining of the bladder is resistant to penetration,

pouchlike structures that enable the organ to stretch create niches in

which E. Coli can reside. By enhancing specific cellular activity,

forskolin causes these pouches to flush their E. Coli colonies into the

urine, rendering the bacteria destructible by antibiotics.

 

Because the current research used injectable and intravenous forskolin,

Dr Abraham is planning to test the compound & rsquo;s efficacy when

administered orally. " This type of treatment strategy may prove to be

beneficial for patients with recurrent urinary tract infections, " Dr

Abraham predicted. " Ideally, use of this herb would expel the bacteria,

where it would then be hit with antibiotics. With the reservoir of

hiding bacteria cleared out, the infection should not recur. "