INHIBITION OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI BY PHENOLIC EXTRACTS OF SPROUTED PEAS (PISUM SATIVUM L.)

Abstract

Infection by Helicobacter pylori is associated with gastric and duodenal ulcers. Conventional treatments to eradicate it have side-effects such as diarrhea and dizziness. The excessive use of antibiotics could also lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The use of plant phenolic phytochemicals can be an alternative because of their health benefits due to both antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity. The pea (Pisum sativum), the world's second most important pulse crop, produces phenolic phytochemicals with antimicrobial potential. Because the synthesis of phenolic compounds increases with stress, we investigated the anti-H. pylori effectiveness of extracts from pea sprouts, germinated in the dark condition following treatment with either distilled water or acetyl salicylic acid. The peas were germinated for 8 days and the sprouted samples were measured for total soluble phenolic content, antioxidant and guaiacol peroxidase activity. Subsequently, the sprout extracts were tested for anti-H. pylori activity using the agar diffusion method and the effective dose was determined based on phenolic content. The results showed that both acetyl salicylic acid-treated and untreated pea sprouts at days 5 and 8 had anti-H. pylori activity. The minimum volume for inhibition was 50 μL of extracts. The inhibitory effects were dose dependent. From this study, the potential to use natural phenolic phytochemicals from pea sprouts to control H. pylori was found to be promising. This provides a strategy and foundation to design legume phenolics as functional ingredients against H. pylori.