Bovine lactoferrin inhibits resistant Helicobacter pylori in vitro and protects gastric mucosal injury in vivo

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with gastric mucosal injury, gastric ulcer and other gastrointestinal diseases. Resistance of H. pylori to antibiotics has become an obstacle to clinical eradication therapy. Bovine lactoferrin (bLF) has a broad spectrum of antibacterial effects, high safety and no side effects, which may be conductive to improving the dilemma of antibiotic resistance. We aimed to explore the bactericidal effect of bLF on resistant H. pylori and the protective effect on gastric mucosal injury. In vitro experiments demonstrated that bLF has obvious antibacterial effect on resistant H. pylori and synergistic antibacterial effect when combined with clarithromycin. The MIC and MBC of bLF against resistant H. pylori ranged from 1.25 to 5 mg mL−1. In vivo experiments showed that bLF could improve the degree of gastric mucosa injury, decrease the area of gastric ulcer. Results indicate that bLF has a wide clinical application prospect in medical field.