Bactericidal effect of selected spices, medicinal plants and tea on Helicobacter pylori strains from Sri Lanka

The bactericidal activity of 21 plant extracts on Helicobacter pylori was investigated. Plants were boiled in water to produce aqueous extracts. Bactericidal activity of the extracts was assessed by a standard kill-curve using five strains of H. pylori isolated from Sri Lanka and the NCTC 11637 strain. Among the plants that showed bactericidal activity for H.pylori, turmeric and ginger were the most efficient followed by chilli and black tea. Nutmeg, liquorice, cinnamon, colombo weed, yellow-berried nightshade, threadstem carpetweed, sage, parsley, long pepper, and cumin also showed bactericidal activity against H. pylori. These could serve as potent alternative therapies for H. pylori infection, avoiding the problem of resistance associated with current antibiotic treatment.

Keywords: Bactericidal effect, ginger, Helicobacter pylori, inhibition, medicinal, plants, Sri Lanka, turmeric  

doi:10.4038/jnsfsr.v36i1.135

Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 36 (1) 91-94