title: Brazilian green propolis on Helicobacter pylori infection. a pilot clinical study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Fedral de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. lcoelho@gold.com.br
authors.forename: Luiz Gonzaga Vaz
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Esther Margarida Alves Ferreira
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Clarissa Carvalho
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: Celso Mirra
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Paula e Silva
authors.forename: Bruno Squarcio Fernandes
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.forename: Flávio José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.forename: Luciana Dias
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Moretzsohn
authors.forename: Washington Luiz dos Santos
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Osmar Reni
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Trindade
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011429:Propolis