title: Controlled trial of the effect of cinnamon extract on Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori has been associated with the pathogenesis of antral gastritis, duodenal ulcer, and gastric lymphoma. Eradication of H. pylori has been shown to reverse or prevent relapse of these diseases. Antimicrobials employed in the eradication of H. pylori are not without adverse effects. Newer treatment modalities, therefore, are required. In vitro studies have shown the effectiveness of cinnamon extract against H. pylori and its urease. In this pilot study, we tested the activity of an alcoholic extract of cinnamon in a group of patients infected with H. pylori.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients (11 women, 4 men) aged 16 to 79 years were given 40 mg of an alcoholic cinnamon extract twice daily for 4 weeks; eight patients aged 35 to 79 (7 women, 1 man) received placebo. The amount of H. pylori colonization was measured by the 13C urea breath test before and after therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean urea breath test counts in the study and control groups before and after therapy were 22.1 and 23.9 versus 24.4 and 25.9, respectively. The cinnamon extract was well tolerated, and side effects were minimal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that cinnamon extract, at a concentration of 80 mg /day as a single agent, is ineffective in eradicating H. pylori. Combination of cinnamon with other antimicrobials, or cinnamon extract at a higher concentration, however, may prove useful.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Gastroenterology, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nir
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Potasman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stermer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tabak
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neeman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002935:Cinnamomum zeylanicum; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts