Punica granatum is more effective to prevent gastric disorders induced by Helicobacter pylori or any other stimulator in humans.

摘要

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the bacterium responsible for many gastric disorders such as gastritis, gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. Half of the world's population is infected with H. pylori. Interestingly, the use of medical plants such as Punica granatum (P. granatum), commonly known as pomegranate, are being increasingly used throughout the world because of their efficacy and low toxicity. Studies have reported the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of P. granatum by various mechanisms including anti-adhesive, regulation of proliferation, cell survival, motility, invasion, apoptosis and cell-cycle pathways, increase in JNK phosphorylation and caspase-3 enzyme activity, decrease Akt and mTOR activation as well as inhibitory effects on IL-1 beta and NF-kB. Therefore, it can be suggested that P. granatum may reduce gastric diseases by eradication of H. pylori and also, it may reduce gastric disease symptoms and inhibit the progression of these diseases by its valuable properties. Our hypothesis will be confirmed in the future by experimental investigations such as using P. granatums alone or in combination with other drugs to create an herbal medicine for the prevention of gastric disease development which is induced by H. pylori.