Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod. counteracts the delaying effect of indomethacin on Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic gastric ulcers healing

A comprehensive evaluation of an animal model for Helicobacter pylori-associated stomach cancer: Fact and controversy

Even though Helicobacter pylori infection was the most causative factor of gastric cancer, numerous in vivo studies failed to induce gastric cancer using H. pylori infection only. The utilization of established animal studies in cancer research is crucial as they aim to investigate the coincidental association between suspected oncogenes and pathogenesis as well as generate models for the development and testing of potential treatments. The methods to establish gastric cancer using infected animal models remain limited, diverse in methods, and showed different results. This study investigates the differences in animal models, which highlight different pathological results in gaster by literature research. Electronic databases searched were performed in PubMed, Science Direct, and Cochrane, without a period filter. A total of 135 articles were used in this study after a full-text assessment was conducted. The most frequent animal models used for gastric cancer were Mice, while Mongolian gerbils and Transgenic mice were the most susceptible model for gastric cancer associated with H. pylori infection. Additionally, transgenic mice showed that the susceptibility to gastric cancer progression was due to genetic and epigenetic factors. These studies showed that in Mongolian gerbil models, H. pylori could function as a single agent to trigger stomach cancer. However, most gastric cancer susceptibilities were not solely relying on H. pylori infection, and numerous factors are involved in cancer progression. Further study using Mongolian gerbils and Transgenic mice is crucial to conduct and establish the best models for gastric cancer associated H. pylori.

A scoping review of African natural products against gastric ulcers and Helicobacter pylori

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

African traditional medicine is one of the oldest and most diverse practices for treating ailments and numerous natural products have been recommended for gastric ulcer treatment. Helicobacter pylori is the main causative organism implicated in several diseases, most notably in causing inflammation and the onset of gastric ulcers. Current H. pylori treatment methods are losing efficacy as H. pylori rapidly gains resistance to antibiotics. Hence, a search into natural products and their historical traditional efficacy for the treatment of gastric ulcers is of interest.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review aimed to summarise the African use of natural products, including medicinal plants noted in ethnobotanical reviews, used traditionally to treat gastric ulcers, and highlights the investigations into the anti-H. pylori activity of medicinal plants and bee products found in Africa.

METHODOLOGY

A systematic review was carried out to identify natural products, including those used traditionally in Africa to treat gastric ulcers, and to correlate this with scientific investigations into the anti-H. pylori activity of natural products used in Africa.

RESULTS

A total of 107 literature sources describing the traditional use of medicinal plants in gastric ulcer treatment were found, from which 360 medicinal plants were identified. Of the plants used traditionally for gastric ulcer treatment, 11% were investigated either in vitro or in vivo for anti-ulcer and anti-H. pylori activity. Of the 122 medicinal plants eliciting antimicrobial or anti-ulcer activity, Hibiscus sabdariffa L. calyx extract and Terminalia macroptera Guill. & Perr. root extract were found to have the most noteworthy antimicrobial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.01 mg/mL and 0.03 mg/mL respectively. The essential oils of Piper longum L. and Pachira aquatica Aubl. displayed the most notable in vitro anti-H. pylori activity (MIC of 0.01 mg/mL and 0.02 mg/mL). Several in vivo studies found medicinal plant extracts effective in reducing the H. pylori load along the gastric mucosa. The South African honey variants, Pure Honey and Champagne Royal Train (common names given by supplier) were the most antimicrobially effective (MIC of 0.01-10.0%, 0.63-10.00% v/v) in inhibiting H. pylori when assessed in vitro.

CONCLUSION

These results highlight the potential of natural products to inhibit H. pylori growth and serve as a possible stepping-stone in understanding the management of ulcers. Furthermore, effective natural product treatment or prophylactic use for preventing H. pylori growth may provide a more affordable option for African populations.

Chronic Gastric Ulcer Healing Actions of the Aqueous Extracts of Staple Plant Foods of the North-West, Adamawa, and West Regions of Cameroon

Aim

This study is aimed at establishing phenolic compound profile and assessing the possible antiulcer activities of aqueous extracts of some staple plant foods from the West and North-West regions of Cameroon against chronic gastric ulcer models in rats.

Materials and Methods

Phenolic constituents of extracts were evaluated using HPLC-DAD. Aqueous extracts of Corchorus olitorius, Solanum nigrum, Vigna unguiculata, Triumfetta pentandra, "nkui" spices, and "yellow soup" spices were tested at two doses (200 and 400 mg/kg). After treatments, animals were sacrificed, healing percentage and antioxidant status (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase) were evaluated, and histological examination of gastric mucosa was realized.

Results

HPLC-DAD revealed that p-hydroxybenzoic and protocatechuic acids were the phenolic compound present in all extracts. Oral administration of extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced ulcer surface value and significantly increased mucus production compared to the control groups (p < 0.05). Histological study supported the observed healing activity of different extracts characterized by a reduced inflammatory response. Moreover, administration of aqueous extracts increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes.

Conclusion

This study revealed that aqueous extracts of Solanum nigrum, Corchorus olitorius, Vigna unguiculata, Triumfetta pentandra, "yellow soup" spices, and "nkui" spices possess healing antiulcer effects against models of gastric ulcers. The antiulcer mechanisms involved may include increase of gastric mucus production and improvement of the antioxidant activity of gastric tissue. These activities may be due to the phenolic compounds identified in the extracts, especially p-hydroxybenzoic and protocatechuic acids present in all extracts and with known antioxidant, cytoprotective, and healing properties. However, all the diets may promote the healing process of chronic ulcers caused by excessive alcohol consumption/stress.

Extra virgin olive oil inhibits Helicobacter pylori growth in vitro and the development of mice gastric mucosa lesions in vivo

Helicobacter pylori infection is widespread worldwide, with more than a half of the world population infected. H. pylori antibiotic-resistant strains and non-compliance to therapy are the major causes of H. pylori eradication failure. The search for new therapies based on plant extracts is a scientific interest field. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect in vitro of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), hydroxytyrosol (HT), and oleuropein (Olp) against two H. pylori strains and the effect in vivo of the oral administration of EVOO on the gastric mucosa of BALB/c mice infected with this microorganism. The broth microdilution method assayed the antibacterial in vitro activity of EVOO, HT, and Olp against H. pylori strains. For in vivo studies, male BALB/c mice were infected orally with an H. pylori suspension every 72 h. Four groups were used: (1) Control, (2) H. pylori-infected (HP), (3) EVOO, and (4) HP + EVOO. Mice were sacrificed at 7, 15, and 30 days. The stomachs were removed and observed under a microscope. Scoring of the degree of erosion was determined. Samples were processed by histological techniques for light microscopy. Macroscopic analysis showed that the presence of small erosions increased, both in number and size, in the infected group. Animals infected and treated with EVOO exhibited the presence of fewer erosions, which decreased in number as the treatment progressed. The mucosa of the control and EVOO groups showed normal histological characteristics at the three times studied. The mucosa of animals infected with H. pylori showed disruptions of the lining epithelium, damage to gastric glands, and vasodilation. The mucosa of animals infected with H. pylori and treated with EVOO showed morphological characteristics similar to those of normal and EVOO mucosa. For the first time, the current study showed the effect in vitro and in vivo of EVOO and combined administration of HT and Olp against H. pylori using an animal model. Future studies are needed to establish the mechanism of EVOO’s action at the gastric mucosa level to propose this product as a natural antimicrobial agent for the treatment of gastric H. pylori infections.