Abstract
Mastic gum is a viscous light-green liquid obtained from the bark of Pistacia lentiscus var. chia. which belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. The gum has been fractionated to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the whole gum and its fractions against various strains of Helicobacter pylori. The polymeric gum fraction was separated from the essential oil and the resin (trunk exudates without essential oil) to assess and compare the anti-H. pylori activity of the polymer fraction against lower molecular weight fractions, the gum itself and masticated gum. The polymer fraction was also oxidized and assessed for antimicrobial activity.
Highlights
Various fractions of mastic gum were isolated by steam distillation, solvent extraction and column chromatography, and tested against H. pylori by determining Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and kill kinetics
The H. pylori strains 26695, J99, RSB6, P10, SS1, SS2000, N6, NCTC11637 and RU1 were used for the MIC determinations and strain 26695 was used for the kill kinetics
Substantial work has been done on characterization of chemical composition of Pistachia lentiscus and some other species which are widely spread around the Mediterranean countries as well as the Zagros Mountains and in western and northern Iran and eastern and northern Iraq [4]
Summary
Various fractions of mastic gum were isolated by steam distillation, solvent extraction and column chromatography, and tested against H. pylori by determining Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and kill kinetics. Trunk exudates of Pistachia lentiscus (mastic gum) have been used for the treatment of stomach ulcers. The Persian pharmacist, physician and philosopher Avicenna (980-1037) prescribed mastic gum for abdominal pain, heartburn and topological infections. The Arab physician Ibn Al-Baytar, living in the 13th century, prescribed mastic gum for upper abdominal pain, heartburn, gastric and intestinal ulcers [2]. Substantial work has been done on characterization of chemical composition of Pistachia lentiscus and some other species which are widely spread around the Mediterranean countries as well as the Zagros Mountains and in western and northern Iran and eastern and northern Iraq [4]
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