Effects of combining extracts (from propolis or Zingiber officinale) with clarithromycin on Helicobacter pylori

Abstract

Propolis and Zingiber officinale have been shown to be specifically targeted against Helicobacter pylori strains, to possess antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antitumoral activity and to be used in traditional medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments. Considering that these natural products could potentially serve as novel therapeutic tools also in combination with an antibiotic, the aim of this work was to evaluate their effect when combined with clarithromycin on clinical H. pylori isolates (n = 25), characterized in respect to both clarithromycin susceptibility and the presence of the cagA gene. The results showed that the combinations of propolis extract + clarithromycin and Z. officinale extract + clarithromycin exhibited improved inhibition of H. pylori with synergistic or additive activity. Interestingly, the susceptibility to combinations was significantly independent of the microbial clarithromycin susceptibility status. Only one H. pylori strain showed antagonism towards the Z. officinale extract + clarithromycin combination. The data demonstrate that combinations of propolis extract + clarithromycin and Z. officinale extract + clarithromycin have the potential to help control H. pylori-associated gastroduodenal disease.

Bioactivity and potential therapeutic benefits of some medicinal plants from the Caatinga (semi-arid) vegetation of Northeast Brazil: a review of the literature

“…It was found that gingerol inhibited the growth of H. pylori strains in vitro and this activity may contribute to its chemopreventive effects against colon cancer (Mahady et al, 2003). This anti-H. pylori action was further confirmed by Mahady et al (2005) and Nostro et al (2006). Recently, Weng et al (2010) demonstrated that [6]-shogaol and [6]-gingerol exerted anti-invasive activity against human hepatocarcinoma cells.…”

Different Extracts of Zingiber officinale Decrease Enterococcus faecalis Infection in Galleria mellonella

“…officinale at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL of fresh and glycolic extracts and 5.0 mg/mL of dried extract showed antimicrobial action against E. faecalis by protective action against experimental infection in G. mellonella. The exact antimicrobial mechanism by which Z. officinale acts on microorganisms still needs to be clarified (17). However, it may be anticipated that different action mechanisms of this phytotherapic that lead to microbial reduction may be partly due to its hydrophobicity.…”

Actividad antibacteriana in vitro de propóleos chilenos sobre Helicobacter pylori

“…pylori coloniza la mucosa gástrica de más de la mitad de la población mundial y es responsable de gastritis crónica, úlcera péptica, adenocarcinoma y linfoma asociado a la mucosa gástrica 7,10 . El tratamiento convencional sólo logra entre 70 y 80% de éxito en la cura de los pacientes, por lo que se busca activamente alternativas terapéuticas distintas a los antimicrobianos, como vacunas, probióticos, inactivación fotodinámica, fagoterapia y búsqueda de productos fitoterapéuticos o nutracéuticos [8][9][10][13][14][15][16] . Entre las alternativas fitoterapéuticas, destaca el potencial uso de los extractos de propóleos, que están constituidos por flavonoides, ácidos fenólicos y sus ésteres, además de una gran variedad de otros compuestos cuya presencia y cantidad varía según el lugar de obtención 1,2 .…”