Brazilian green propolis on Helicobacter pylori infection. a pilot clinical study.
Recent in vitro studies suggest that propolis and some of its phenolic components are able to inhibit Helicobacter pylori growth. To date, there are no clinical studies.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Brazilian green propolis on H. pylori-infected individuals.


METHODS
Eighteen (11 females, 7 males, mean age 47 years) participants were included. Before treatment, all participants were submitted to gastroscopy, and H. pylori infection was confirmed by histology, urease test, and (13)C-urea breath test (UBT). Participants with UBT showing a delta over baseline (DOB) value higher than 4 per thousand were considered positive for H. pylori infection. Twenty drops from an alcoholic preparation of Brazilian green propolis were administered three times a day for 7 days. Clinical evaluation and UBT were performed at 1-3 days and at 40 days after the end of therapy to evaluate H. pylori suppression or eradication, respectively.


RESULTS
All participants took all medication and completed the study. Eighty-three percent of the subjects did not succeed in suppressing or eradicating H. pylori. Two participants reached partial suppression after treatment, but became positive again at UBT performed 40 days after treatment. Another participant presented negative at UBT 40 days after treatment, not confirmed by a second UBT performed 100 days after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Brazilian green propolis used in popular dose showed minimal effect on H. pylori infection. Larger studies with longer duration, larger dose, and different frequency of administration of propolis extract should be undertaken to define its role on H. pylori therapy.
Coelho
Luiz Gonzaga Vaz
LG
Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Fedral de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. lcoelho@gold.com.br
Bastos
Esther Margarida Alves Ferreira
EM
Resende
Clarissa Carvalho
CC
Paula e Silva
Celso Mirra
CM
Sanches
Bruno Squarcio Fernandes
BS
de Castro
Flávio José
FJ
Moretzsohn
Luciana Dias
LD
Vieira
Washington Luiz dos Santos
WL
Trindade
Osmar Reni
OR
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011429:Propolis / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011429:Propolis