Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori colonize the gastric mucosa, related with different gastro-duodenal diseases and the clinical outcome linked to these diseases has been associated with pathogen virulence genes and their polymorphism. The aim of the study is to detect Helicobacter pyloricagA gene and to investigate the distribution of their genotypes in the patients with gastroduodenal symptoms. Total 51 patients were enrolled in the study on the basis of clinical and endoscopic findings. Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to the endoscopic procedure and collection of gastric biopsy specimens. Histopathological examination was done for detection of H. pylori in tissue specimens. The H. pylori histopathology positive specimens are considered as Helicobacter pylori positive and PCR were done for cagA detection and the positive specimens further tested by RFLP to detect the cagA polymorphism. Among the histopathology positive H. pylori cases 90% were positive for cagA gene by PCR and almost 100% cagA were β genotype by PCR-RFLP. No α genotype of cagA was found. Mean age of the patients were 46.9 ± 14.2 years starting from 22to 76 years. Out of 51 patients 39(76.47%) were male and 23.52% were female. According to the age group distribution, 22 (43.13%) were in 41-60 years age group and 39.21%and 17.64% were in 20-40 years and 61-80 years age group respectively. Among the 09 cagA positive cases 55.6% are in the 41-60 years age group and most (66.6%) of the cagA positive cases found in male patients. Significant percentage (33.3 and 50) of cagA was found among the patients suffering from melena and hematemesis. The result of the present study by PCR-RFLP pattern analysis revealed only β genotype for H. pylori cagA positive strains, which were typical genotypes in strains from Western countries. Therefore, it seems that the evaluation of genetic diversity in H. pylori-associated cagA gene can be attributable to the colonial relationship and epidemiology of H. pylori in defined population.

H. pylori is a gram- negative, microaerobic bacterium with a worldwide distribution in the acid –secreting gastroduodenal mucosa of man. H. pylori colonization itself is not a disease, but infection causes various clinical disorders in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Combination antibiotic therapy is advocated as its first line of treatment. But development of resistance to antibiotics, undesirable side effects and significant cost of the therapy makes it very difficult for the effective management of the condition. Moreover, compliance with the antibiotic regimen which is usually administered for 14-21 days is a big hindrance to the successful management of H. pylori. The need of the hour is to search for an alternative natural therapeutic agent which should be cost effective, devoid of undesirable side effects and must be easily available to the common people. Recent studies have suggested that H. pylori infection can be suppressed through the use of medicinal plants. In this context, recent research study reports reflect that gastro-protective medicinal plants as described in Ayurvedic Texts like Sunthi (Zingiber officinale), Rasona (Allium sativum), Kampillaka (Mallotus philipinensis), Kalajaji (Nigella sativa), Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica), Sarpunkha (Tephrosia purpurea), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Amragandhi Haridra (Curcuma amada) and Twak (Cinnamomum spp.) possess significant anti- Helicobacter pylori activity. Therefore, it is concluded that inclusion of natural antioxidants in the normal, daily diet may be the best remedial measure for continued protection from H. pylori infection. They are nontoxic in nature and hence can be used safely.