Tomatoes are not only delicious, but also nutritious. They are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and other compounds that can benefit our health. But did you know that tomatoes also have antibacterial properties that can kill Salmonella Typhi and other bacteria that can harm our digestive and urinary tract health?
Salmonella Typhi is a deadly human-specific pathogen that causes typhoid fever, a serious infection that spreads through contaminated food and water. Typhoid fever is a major public health problem in many parts of the world where people lack access to clean water, sanitation, or vaccines. It affects children the most and can be fatal if not treated with antibiotics. However, some strains of Salmonella Typhi have become resistant to antibiotics, making them harder to treat.
A new study published in Microbiology Spectrum, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, has found that tomato juice can effectively kill Salmonella Typhi and other bacteria that can affect our digestive and urinary tract health. The researchers from Cornell University in the US discovered that tomatoes contain two specific antimicrobial peptides, which are small proteins that impair the bacterial membrane, a protective layer that surrounds the pathogen. These peptides can rupture the bacterial membrane and kill the bacteria within 45 minutes.
The researchers tested the effect of tomato juice on Salmonella Typhi and its variants, as well as other enteric pathogens such as Salmonella Typhimurium, which causes non-lethal food poisoning. They found that tomato juice was able to eliminate all these bacteria in laboratory experiments. They also used computer modeling to understand how the antimicrobial peptides interact with the bacterial membrane and cause its damage.
The study suggests that tomato juice could be a natural weapon against Salmonella and other harmful bacteria that can infect our gut and urinary tract. The researchers hope that their findings will encourage people, especially children and teenagers, to consume more tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables, as they provide natural antibacterial benefits. They also hope that their study will inspire further research on the antimicrobial properties of tomatoes and other plants.