Effect of the folk remedy, Bainiku-ekisu, a concentrate of Prunus mume juice, on Helicobacter pylori infection in humans.
BACKGROUND
Bainiku-ekisu, a concentrate of Japanese apricot (Prunus mume) juice, is a traditional Japanese folk remedy for treatment of dyspepsia since more than a thousand years ago. Fujita et al. previously reported in vitro antibacterial effect of Bainiku-ekisu to Helicobacter pylori. We conducted an in vivo pilot study to evaluate the possibility that Bainiku-ekisu may have an antibacterial effect on H. pylori in the human stomach.


METHODS
Consecutive 18 H. pylori-positive subjects were included. Approximately 130 mL 1% Bainiku-ekisu solution was ingested by the subjects twice a day for 12 weeks. Urea breath test (UBT) was performed before ingestion, and 2 and 12 weeks after starting ingestion of Bainiku-ekisu, and UBT values were compared.


RESULTS
Bainiku-ekisu therapy resulted in a slight fall in UBT values after 2 weeks (from 30.1 +/- 6 to 23.5 +/- 6 in ITT analysis, p = .094; from 31.2 +/- 6 to 24.7 +/- 6 in PP analysis, p = .124) (data are shown with mean +/- SE). In two instances (11%), the UBT values became negative. Fourteen subjects completed the trial for 12 weeks and there was no significant change in UBT values (from 30.1 +/- 6 to 25.9 +/- 6 in ITT analysis, p = .450; from 35.6 +/- 6 to 31.4 +/- 7 in PP analysis, p = .555).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results are consistent with the antibacterial effect of Bainiku-ekisu on H. pylori in the human stomach. However, the bacteria were not successfully eradicated with 2- or 12-week ingestion of a Bainiku-ekisu solution. Subsequent studies will need to identify a clinically useful regimen.
Nakajima
Shigemi
S
Fujita
Kimie
K
Inoue
Yumiko
Y
Nishio
Muneaki
M
Seto
Yukio
Y
D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D027861:Prunus; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010936:Plant Extracts