Inhibition potential of natural based products against Chlamydia pneumoniae infection

A large number of antimicrobial substances, phytoalexins, are found in nature and they form a variable group of compounds playing important role in the natural defence of living organism. This study was carried out to evaluate whether several groups of natural, natural derived synthetic compounds or natural extracts have an impact on C. pneumoniae infection, in vitro. 37% (21/57) of the tested compounds were highly active; 28% (16/57) active; 11% (6/57) moderately active; 24% (14/57) inactive. Highly active compounds were found in many compound groups, but the most active group was that of gallates. Inactive compounds could also be found in many compound classes, but among synthetic coumarins, many compounds had 0% inhibition.

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common cause of acute upper and lower respiratory tract infections, including pharyngitis, sinusitis and pneumonia, but it also has a tendency to cause chronic infections. There is augmenting evidence on the involvement of chronic C. pneumoniae infection in the atherosclerotic diseases like coronary heart disease. Even though the acute infections can be successfully treated with several antibiotics, the eradication of chronic C. pneumoniae infection seems to be exceedingly difficult. High doses and prolonged treatment is often needed to achieve clinical cure and there is still a risk of the persistence of C. pneumoniae in the tissues after treatment. Thus, it is extremely important to find new compounds that can be used in the treatment or prophylaxis of C. pneumoniae infections.