A comparative study on the Antimicrobial Effect of some Medicinal Herbal Extracts and Selective Antibiotics against the clinical Isolates of Helicobactor pylori

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori, a gram negative microaerophilic bacterium has been recognized as the main cause of peptic ulcers as well as some malignancies. In this study stomach biopsy samples taken from patients complaining of stomach disturbances were tested for H. pylori infection. out of 150 samples tested 91 (60%) turned to be positive using a standard urease as well culture methods. Disk diffusion method was used to determine the sensitivity of the isolates to the selective antibiotics and also ten herbal extracts known for their antimicrobial activities. All the isolates showed sensitivity to gentamycin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin while 70% were sensitive to erythromycin and amoxicillin and 39% were metronidazole sensitive. Of the herbal extracts tested, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Salvia officinalis, Myrtus communis, Artemisia absinthium and Melina azedarach showed significant inhibitory effect on H. pylori while others had no effect. These results indicate that some traditional herbal medicines e.g. Glycyrrhiza glabra could be considered as alternatives to the current antibiotic therapy on H. pylori infection.

Keywords

• helicobacter pylori
• herbal extracts
• antimicrobial effects