Medicinal plant extracts protect epithelial cells from infection and DNA damage caused by colibactin-producing Escherichia coli, and inhibit the growth of bacteria.

This study is the first of its kind to report on the enhancement of the biological properties of T. catappa, P. guajava and S. koetjape, and to support the exogenous compound usage of tannin and quercetin, which may be able to protect against the transient infection and DNA damage of eukaryotic cells from E. coli carrying colibactin toxin.