Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial Properties of Curcuma longa Extract Against Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that colonizes the human stomach, causing gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric cancer. This study investigated the anti-Helicobacter and anti-inflammatory effects of Curcuma longa extract (CLE) as a potential treatment for H. pylori infection. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) analysis identified 18 chemical compounds in CLE, with curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin, and bisacurone as major active components. In vitro experiments demonstrated that CLE completely inhibited the growth of H. pylori Sydney strain 1 (SS1) in a dose-dependent manner and exhibited synergistic effects when combined with amoxicillin. In a mouse model infected with H. pylori SS1 showed that oral administration of CLE for 4 weeks effectively eradicated H. pylori from the stomach without causing toxicity, as evidenced by the CLO test and reduced levels of H. pylori-associated genes. Furthermore, CLE attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in the gastric mucosa of infected mice and significantly reduced the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases in H. pylori-infected AGS cells, a human gastric cancer cell line. These findings suggest that CLE is a promising candidate for the treatment of H. pylori infection, exhibiting potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.