[iko (OP)]

Helicobacter eradication is a lost battle when proper antibiotic treatment is not affordable and sanitary conditions don't allow prevention of reinfection in a short period.

Alternative treatments may help minimizing long term damage:

A curcumin-based 1-week triple therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection: something to learn from failure?

Di Mario F, Cavallaro LG, Nouvenne A, Stefani N, Cavestro GM, Iori V, Maino M, Comparato G, Fanigliulo L, Morana E, Pilotto A, Martelli L, Martelli M, Leandro G, Franzè A.
Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Parma, Italy. francesco.dimario@unipr.it

BACKGROUND: Curcumin is the principal element of turmeric powder extracted from the root of Curcuma longa. Studies on curcumin have demonstrated some anti-Helicobacter pylori activity as well as immunomodulating properties. N-acetylcysteine and lactoferrin with their respective mucolytic and antibacterial activities might also be effective in H. pylori eradication therapy.
AIM: To determine if a 7-day non-antibiotic therapy comprised of curcumin, lactoferrin, N-acetylcysteine, and pantoprazole was effective for eradication of H. pylori infection and reduction of gastric inflammation, assessed by serum pepsinogens and relief of symptoms.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive H. pylori-positive patients (12 males, mean age 50 +/- 12 years, range 31-76) with functional dyspepsia were enrolled. Patients were administered for 7 days curcumin 30 mg b.i.d., bovine lactoferrin 100 mg b.i.d., N-acetylcysteine 600 mg b.i.d., and pantoprazole 20 mg b.i.d. H. pylori status and upper gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed by (13)C-urea breath test and a scale of upper gastrointestinal symptoms intensity (absent, mild, moderate, and severe), as well as a blood test for serum pepsinogens (sPGI, sPGII), gastrin-17 (G-17), and anti-H. pylori IgG (IgG-Hp) at baseline (T0) and after 2 months (T1).
RESULTS: Three of 25 patients (12%) were cured of H. pylori infection. A significant decrease in the overall severity of symptoms (T0: 6, interquartile range [IQR]: 4.5-8; T1: 2, IQR: 2-3; p < or = .001), and sPGII (T0: 16 microg/L, IQR: 13-22; T1: 10 microg/L, IQR: 8-16; p < or = .001) and sPGI (T0: 82 microg/L, IQR: 67-97; T1: 74 microg/L, IQR: 62-94; p = .02) levels were observed after 2 months of the treatment. IgG and G-17 values did not significantly decrease after 2 months.

CONCLUSIONS: This novel therapy was not effective for H. pylori eradication. However, despite the bacterium persistence, significant improvement of dyspeptic symptoms and reduction of serologic signs of gastric inflammation were observed after 2 months at the end of the 7-day treatment schedule.

Helicobacter. 2007 Jun;12(3):238-43.



WARNING! HYPERSPECIALIZED TOPIC

Anybody not familiar with the 'Helicobacter connections' should go through this enlighting path first:

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2005/marshall-lecture.html
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/2005/warren-lecture.html

...plus all interviews and documentaries. "Googling" for Helicobacter pylori could be too messy.
 

[iko (OP)]

more supporting data for this newborn thread:

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and curcumin inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a group 1 carcinogen.

Mahady GB, Pendland SL, Yun G, Lu ZZ.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, WHO Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. mahady@uic.edu

BACKGROUND: Curcumin, a polyphenolic chemical constituent derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been shown to prevent gastric and colon cancers in rodents. Many mechanisms have been proposed for the chemopreventative effects, although the effect of curcumin on the growth of Helicobacter pylori has not been reported. H. pylori is a Group 1 carcinogen and is associated with the development of gastric and colon cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A methanol extract of the dried powdered turmeric rhizome and curcumin were tested against 19 strains of H. pylori, including 5 cagA+ strains. RESULTS: Both the methanol extract and curcumin inhibited the growth of all strains of H. pylori in vitro with a minimum inhibitory concentration range of 6.25-50 micrograms/ml.
CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that curcumin inhibits the growth of H. pylori cagA+ strains in vitro, and this may be one of the mechanisms by which curcumin exerts its chemopreventative effects.

Anticancer Res. 2002 Nov-Dec;22(6C):4179-81.