Gastroprotective and anti Helicobacter pylori activities of propolis

Helicobacter pylori (HP) determines the most common human infection overall. Important gastric diseases are associated with HP with percentage of correlation up to 90% (duodenal ulcer and gastric lymphoma). The complexity of the pathogenetic factors of HP has prompted research to identit/ "phytocomplexes" able to act on different mechanisms of HP pathogenesis [1]. Our group investigated propolis regarding its antibacterial activity and focusing the protection from oxidative stress and massive inflammatory response, key elements of the progression of HP gastric diseases related, scarcely considered in classic antibiotical therapies [21. We studied propolis marketed in ltaly: classic propolis dry extract, hydrodispersible propolis, water-soluble propolis and a new formulation of propolis (75% italian propolis dry extract, 15% green tea catechins, 10% grape seed procyanidins), 50% total polyphenols UV method standardized. The different chemical composition of samples determines different biological activity as evidenced by in vífro and in human cells assays [3,4,51. Propolis water solutions at different concentrations were tested. Results indicated that propolis has high radical scavenging capacity (lCso in DPPH test ranging from 8.2 to 65.4 ?g/mt) and protect cell membranes from oxidative stress. Antioxidant activitvity was directly proportional to the effectiveness against HP: the new propolis formulation MBC and MIC against HPcagt and HPcag is 0.250 mg/ mL Tests on human PBMC stimulated wíth LPS showed that all samples (conc. 200 pg/ml) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity respect to LPS group. This research clearly demonstrated that antioxidant properties of propolis preparatíons and effectively promote gastric protection acfing in different steps of HP pathogenesis. Keyvu,ords: Helicobacter pylori, propolis, anti-infl ammatory, antioxidant, gastroprotective References: [1] Molnar B, Galamb O, Sipos F, Leisztef K, Tulassay (2010) Z Dig Dis 28(4-5):604-608. [2] Calvino-Fernindez M, Pana-Cid T (2010) Rev Esp Enferm Dig 1O2:. 41-5O. [3] Biagi M, Miraldi E, Figura N, ciachetti D (2009) Nat Prod Commun 4(2):255-260. [4] Rapta P, Misík V, Srasko A, Vrébet I (1995) Free Radic Biol Med 18 (5):901-908. [5] Boyanova L, Gergova G, Nikolov R, Derejian S, Lazarova E, Katsarov N, Mitov l, I(rastev Z (2005) J Med Microbiol 54:481-483.