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Phytother Res. 2005 Nov;19(11):988-91. In vitro susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to botanical extracts used traditionally for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Mahady GB, Pendland SL, Stoia A, Hamill FA, Fabricant D, Dietz BM, Chadwick LR. Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 833 S. Wood Street M/C 877, 60612, USA. mahady@uic.edu

The gram-negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori (HP), identified in 1982, is now recognized as the primary etiological factor associated with the development of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. In addition, HP infections are also associated with chronic gastritis, gastric carcinoma and primary gastric B-cell lymphoma.

For centuries, herbals have been used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of ailments, including gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as dyspepsia, gastritis and peptic ulcer disease (PUD). However, the mechanism of action by which these botanicals exert their therapeutic effects has not been completely elucidated. As part of an ongoing screening program, the study assessed the in vitro susceptibility of 15 HP strains to botanical extracts, which have a history of traditional use in the treatment of GI disorders. Methanol extracts of

• Myristica fragrans (seed) had a MIC of 12.5 microg/mL;
• Zingiber officinale (ginger rhizome/root) and Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary leaf) had an MIC of 25 microg/mL.

Methanol extracts of botanicals with a MIC of 50 microg/mL included

• Achillea millefolium,
• Foeniculum vulgare (seed),
• Passiflora incarnata (herb),
• Origanum majorana (herb) and a (1:1) combination of Curcuma longa (root) and ginger rhizome.

Botanical extracts with a MIC of 100 microg/mL included

• Carum carvi (caraway seed),
• Elettaria cardamomum (seed),
• Gentiana lutea (roots),
• Juniper communis (berry),
• Lavandula angustifolia (flowers),
• Melissa officinalis (lemon balm leaves),
• Mentha piperita (mint leaves) and
• Pimpinella anisum (anise seed).

Methanol extracts of Matricaria recutita (chamomile flowers) and Ginkgo biloba (leaves) had a MIC > 100 microg/mL.

PMID: 16317658