Tomato juice indeed has certain antibacterial qualities that could aid in the fight against some infections, such as Salmonella. The main cause of this is the existence of substances like the antioxidant lycopene, which is present in tomatoes and has been investigated for possible antibacterial properties.
According to research published this week in Microbiology Spectrum, a magazine of the American Society for Microbiology, tomato juice can eliminate Salmonella Typhi and other bacteria that can damage people’s digestive and urinary system health. Typhoid fever is brought on by the lethal human-specific bacterium Salmonella Typhi.
“Our main goal in this study was to find out if tomato and tomato juice can kill enteric pathogens, including Salmonella Typhi, and if so, what qualities they have that make them work,” said principal study investigator Jeongmin Song, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Cornell University.
Our main goal in this study was to find out if tomato and tomato juice can kill enteric pathogens, including Salmonella Typhi, and if so, what qualities they have that make them work.
Jeongmin Song
Initially, the scientists tested whether tomato juice actually killed Salmonella Typhi in experimental settings. After confirming that it did, the researchers examined the tomato’s DNA to identify the antimicrobial peptides that were at play. Small proteins known as antimicrobial peptides damage the bacterial membrane that maintains the organism intact. Four potential antimicrobial peptides were selected, and their efficacy against Salmonella Typhi was evaluated. This aided in the discovery of two antimicrobial peptides that effectively inhibited Salmonella Typhi.
The research team conducted more tests on Salmonella Typhi variants that appear in places where the disease is common. They also did a computer study to learn more about how the antibacterial peptides kill Salmonella Typhi and other enteric pathogens. Lastly, they looked at how well tomato juice worked against other enteric pathogens that can hurt people’s digestive and urinary tract health.
The most important finding is that tomato juice effectively eradicates germs that can damage people’s digestive and urinary tract health, including Salmonella Typhi and its hypervirulent forms. Two antimicrobial peptides in particular have the ability to destroy these infections by compromising the bacterial membrane, which encases the pathogen in a layer of defense.
“Our research shows that tomato and tomato juice can get rid of enteric bacteria like Salmonella,” Song stated. Because tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables naturally contain antibacterial properties, the researchers believe that when the general population, especially kids and teenagers, hears about the study’s findings, they will want to eat and drink more of them.
