Chios mastic treatment of patients with active Crohn's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of mastic administration on the clinical course and plasma inflammatory mediators of patients with active Crohn's disease (CD).


METHODS
This pilot study was conducted in patients with established mild to moderately active CD, attending the outpatient clinics of the hospital, and in healthy controls. Ten patients and 8 controls were recruited for a 4-wk treatment with mastic caps (6 caps/d, 0.37 g/cap). All patients successfully completed the protocol. CD Activity Index (CDAI), Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and total antioxidant potential (TAP) were evaluated in the plasma at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. Results were expressed as mean values +/- SE and P < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.


RESULTS
Patients exhibited significant reduction of CDAI (222.9 +/- 18.7 vs 136.3 +/- 12.3, P = 0.05) as compared to pretreament values. Plasma IL-6 was significantly decreased (21.2 +/- 9.3 pg/mL vs 7.2 +/- 2.8 pg/ mL, P = 0.027), and so did CRP (40.3 +/- 13.1 mg/mL vs 19.7 +/- 5.5, P = 0.028). TAP was significantly increased (0.15 +/- 0.09 vs 0.57 +/- 0.15 mmol/L uric acid, P = 0.036). No patient or control exhibited any kind of side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that mastic significantly decreased the activity index and the plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP in patients with mildly to moderately active CD. Further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in a larger number of patients are required to clarify the role of this natural product in the treatment of patients with CD.
Kaliora
Andriana C
AC
Department of Science of Dietetics-Nutrition, Harokopio University of Athens, 70 El. Venizelou ave., Kallithea 17671, Athens, Greece. akaliora@hua.gr
Stathopoulou
Maria G
MG
Triantafillidis
John K
JK
Dedoussis
George V Z
GV
Andrikopoulos
Nikolaos K
NK
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000069997:Mastic Resin; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D027927:Pistacia; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012074:Remission Induction; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000069997:Mastic Resin; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012116:Resins, Plant