A Natural Alternative Treatment for Urinary Tract Infections: Itxasol©, the Importance of the Formulation

Molecules. 2021 Jul 28;26(15):4564. doi: 10.3390/molecules26154564.

Abstract

Genito-urinary tract infections have a high incidence in the general population, being more prevalent among women than men. These diseases are usually treated with antibiotics, but very frequently, they are recurrent and lead to the creation of resistance and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. For this reason, it is necessary to develop new compounds for their treatment. In this work, our objective is to review the characteristics of the compounds of a new formulation called Itxasol© that is prescribed as an adjuvant for the treatment of UTIs and composed of β-arbutin, umbelliferon and n-acetyl cysteine. This formulation, based on biomimetic principles, makes Itxasol© a broad-spectrum antibiotic with bactericidal, bacteriostatic and antifungal properties that is capable of destroying the biofilm and stopping its formation. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, without the adverse effects associated with the recurrent use of antibiotics that leads to renal nephrotoxicity and other side effects. All these characteristics make Itxasol© an ideal candidate for the treatment of UTIs since it behaves like an antibiotic and with better characteristics than other adjuvants, such as D-mannose and cranberry extracts.

Keywords: N-acetyl l-cysteine; arbutin; umbelliferon; urinary tract infections.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / chemistry
  • Acetylcysteine / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arbutin / chemistry
  • Arbutin / therapeutic use*
  • Biofilms / drug effects
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Biological Products / chemistry
  • Biological Products / therapeutic use*
  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry
  • Biomimetic Materials / therapeutic use
  • Candida / drug effects
  • Candida / growth & development
  • Candida / pathogenicity
  • Drug Combinations
  • Female
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / growth & development
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / pathogenicity
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / growth & development
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Umbelliferones / chemistry
  • Umbelliferones / therapeutic use*
  • Urinary Tract Infections / drug therapy*
  • Urinary Tract Infections / microbiology
  • Urinary Tract Infections / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Drug Combinations
  • Umbelliferones
  • 7-hydroxycoumarin
  • Arbutin
  • Acetylcysteine