Combination of Curcuma Longa and Omeprazole in the Treatment of Peptic-Ulcer Disease and H. pylori Eradication in Comparison to the Triple Therapy: A Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Overwhelming evidences have linked H.pylori to the etiology of peptic ulcer diseases. Curcuma longa has the potential to inhibit H.pylori in vitro but relatively few studies have demonstrated anti-ulcer activity of curcuma longa in man.

Objectives: To assess the anti-ulcer, anti-H.pylori activity of combination of curcuma longa and omeprazole in comparison to the standard triple therapy.

Methods: Fifty endoscopically proved peptic-ulcer patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups. Group 1 (24 patients) were assigned to receive amoxycillin (1 g bid for 1 week), metronidazole (400 mg bid for 1 week) and omeprazole (20 mg bid for 1 week, and followed by 20 mg OD. for another 3 weeks). Group 2 (26 patients) were assigned to receive curcuma longa capsule (1 g qid for 4 weeks) plus omeprazole capsule (20 mg bid for 1 week, and followed by 20 mg OD. for another 3 weeks). All were re-examined by endocsopy at 4 weeks after the completion of treatment. Ulcer healing, H.pylori status, were re-assessed.

Results: The ulcer healing rate and H.pylori eradication rate for group 1 and group 2 were 58% and 73% (p-value = 0.373), and 63% and 8% (p-value < 0.001) repectively.

Conclusions: Combination of Curcuma longa and omeprazole showed no difference in peptic ulcer healing effect compared with the standard triple therapy. However, the former regimen had significant lower H.pylori eradication rate.

Key words: Peptic ulcer, Triple therapy, H. pylori, Turmeric, Curcumin, Curcuma longa,