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

• Published in: Phytotherapy research 2006-03, Vol.20 (3), p.187-190
• Main Authors: Nostro, A, Cellini, L, Di Bartolomeo, S, Cannatelli, M.A, Di Campli, E, Procopio, F, Grande, R, Marzio, L, Alonso, V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antigens, Bacterial - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Biological and medical sciences; clarithromycin; Clarithromycin - pharmacology; combinations; Drug Combinations; Drug Synergism; Ethanol - chemistry; General pharmacology; Helicobacter Infections - drug therapy; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - classification; Helicobacter pylori - drug effects; Helicobacter pylori - genetics; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine, Traditional; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Propolis; Propolis - chemistry; Propolis - pharmacology; Zingiber officinale; Zingiber officinale - chemistry
• ISSN: 0951-418X; 1099-1573
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.1830

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. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.