In vitro and In vivo Anti- Helicobacter pylori Activities of Centella asiatica Leaf Extract

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with an increased risk of developing upper gastrointestinal tract diseases. However, treatment failure is a major cause of concern mainly due to possible recurrence of infection, the side effects, and resistance to antibiotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the activities of Centella asiatica leaf extract (CAE) against H. pylori both in vitro and in vivo. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against 55 clinically isolated strains of H. pylori were tested using an agar dilution method. The MICs of CAE ranged from 0.125 mg/mL to 8 mg/mL, effectiveness in inhibiting H. pylori growth was 2 mg/mL. The anti-H. pylori effects of CAE in vivo were also examined in H. pylori-infected C57BL/6 mice. CAE was orally administrated once daily for 3 weeks at doses of 50 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg. CAE at the 50 mg/kg dose significantly reduced H. pylori colonization in mice gastric mucosa. Our study provides novel insights into the therapeutic effects of CAE against H. pylori infection, and it suggests that CAE may be useful as an alternative therapy.

Keywords: Centella asiatica leaf extract; Helicobacter pylori; colonization; gastric mucosa.

Fig. 1

Experimental protocol for Helicobacter pylori infection model. Mice in group 1 were orally administrated distilled water, group 2 and 3 were orally treated Centella asiatica leaf extract (CAE) (50 and 250 mg/kg) once daily for 3 weeks. After 1 week CAE treatment, mice in group 1, 2, and 3 were orally administered H. pylori [2×10⁹ colony-forming units (CFU)] 3 times over 5 days.

Fig. 2

Distribution of Centella asiatica leaf extract (CAE) minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) among the Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from clinical patients. MICs were determined by the agar dilution method. The antimicrobial activity was examined against 55 different clinical isolates of H. pylori.

Fig. 3

Effects of Centella asiatica leaf extract (CAE) against Helicobacter pylori colonization in C57BL/6 mice. CAE was orally administrated at 50 and 250 mg/kg, once daily for 3 weeks. The results are expressed in mean±SEM (n=10). *P<0.05 compared with control.