Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infected mice with Bryophyllum pinnatum, a medicinal plant with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, reduces bacterial load

Abstract

Context: Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz (Crassulaceae) is a plant known for its antiulcer properties.

Objective: This study evaluates the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of Bryophyllum pinnutum methanol extract with a mouse model and its antioxidant properties.

Materials and methods: Dried leaves of Bryophyllum pinnutum were extracted with methanol and ethyl acetate. Broth microdilution method was used to evaluate the anti-Helicobacter activity of extract samples in vitro. Swiss mice were inoculated with a suspension of Helicobacter pylori and divided into control group and four others that received 125, 250, 500 mg/kg of methanol extract or ciprofloxacin (500 mg/kg), respectively, for 7 days. Helicobacter pylori colonization and bacterial load of mouse stomach was assessed on day 1 and 7 post-treatment. The antioxidant activity of Bryophyllum pinnutum was evaluated through DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical and reducing power assay.

Results: Methanol extract showed a significant anti-Helicobacter activity with MIC and MBC values of 32 and 256 μg/mL, respectively. Bryophyllum pinnatum and ciprofloxacin reduced H. pylori colonization of gastric tissue from 100% to 17%. Bryophyllum pinnatum extract (85.91 ± 52.91 CFU) and standard (25.74 ± 16.15 CFU) also reduced significantly (p < 0.05) bacterial load of gastric mucosa as compared to untreated infected mice (11883 ± 1831 CFU). DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical and reducing power assays showed IC₅₀ values of 25.31 ± 0.34, 55.94 ± 0.68 and 11.18 ± 0.74 μg/mL, respectively.

Discussion and conclusion: The data suggest that the methanol extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum could inhibit Helicobacter pylori growth, and may also acts as an antioxidant to protect gastric mucosa against reactive oxygen species.

Keywords:

• Gastroduodenal infection
• anti-Helicobacter pylori
• herbal drug

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Cameroon National Herbarium for the identification of plants.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.