Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2011, 2, 868-877 Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that infects your stomach. It can damage the tissue in your stomach and the first part of your small intestine (the duodenum). This can cause redness and soreness (inflammation). Anti-Helicobacter activity has been estimated in broccoli sprouts, dill, fennel, caraway and cinnamon. In our opinion, the largest amount of information describes berries - the cranberry, bilberry, strawberry, black currant and red bilberry. The inhibitory effect of the Japanese apricot on chronic gastritis is also well-known.
The aim of our study was to evaluate the anti-Helicobacter effect of certain food plant extracts and juices and their composition.
Many infections may prove amenable to safe and effective treatment with non-antibiotics. The consumption of foods that inhibit the growth of bacteria may provide an alternative to current therapies.
In general, investigations of natural anti-Helicobacter agents can be divided in two groups: 1) investigation of plants; 2) investigation of common food plants and their components.
From tested components including fruit and berry juices, quince juice showed the greatest antibacterial activity. Its activity exceeded the activity of cranberry juice. The antibacterial activity was observed in 10% quince juice while cranberry juice retained some activity only at 20% concentration. Moreover, quince juice recovered the major part of its anti- bacterial activity even after five years’ storage. Equivalent activity was demonstrated by juice of wild and cranberries.
Concentrated apple juice as well as plum, red currant, black chokeberry, raspberry and bilberry juice also demonstrated significant antibacterial activity. Green tea ex- tract and apple pomace extract as well as sweet flag rhizome, ginger and wild bergamot extract, cherry syrup, red beet juice and whey did not possess anti-Helicobacter activity.
Also, the bacteriostatic effect of dill, fennel, caraway and cinnamon extracts against Helicobacter has been detected. The presumption was stated that the different dietary combinations of these extracts may be a factor in the possible protection afforded by the traditional Iranian diet against Helicobacter infection.
There have been many investigations regarding anti- bacterial activity of different natural plant products in laboratory experiments. Cranberries are considered the gold standard. Trial conducted in China showed that regular dietary consumption of cranberry juice can suppress Helicobacter infection. In some experiments, the greatest anti-Helicobacter activity was demonstrated by quince and cranberry juice, but significant activity was shown by apple, plum, red currant, black chokeberry, raspberry and bilberry juice.
On the basis of this experiments, the essential components of new functional anti-Helicobacter food product(s) could be the most active juices and extracts like quince, black chokeberry and cranberry juice supplemented. We are waiting for Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism of antibacterial action of plant juices and extracts and to investigate their efficacy. Institute of Innovative Biomedical Technology Ltd., Riga, Latvia
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