Scientifically Established Herbal Medicine from Fingerroot (Boesenbergia rotunda) Extract Against Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection affects over 50% of the global population and is a major cause of gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. Current antibiotic regimens face challenges such as antibiotic resistance and adverse effects. Natural products provide a promising alternative, but their efficacy must be scientifically validated before clinical use. To address this need, we have developed an in vitro platform to evaluate anti-H. pylori properties of botanical extracts in a robust and reproducible manner.

The model comprises two components: 1) Direct antimicrobial activity determined by minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations; 2) Anti-infective effects against live H. pylori infection of gastric epithelial cells. Using this platform, we have evaluated the anti-H. pylori properties of Boesenbergia rotunda (fingerroot) extracts. This provides evidence for the traditional use of fingerroot and validates it as an herbal medicine candidate. Our in vitro infection model allows rapid screening of natural product libraries to discover novel anti-H. pylori phytotherapies. It offers a standardized method as a part of a preclinical evaluation of safety and efficacy prior to human trials. This platform could be utilized by nutraceutical or pharmaceutical companies interested in scientifically developing new botanical therapies for H. pylori infection and gastritis. It addresses the need for evidence-based natural medicines to combat antibiotic resistance and improve treatment options against a global infection.

Besides uncovering novel targets for traditional medicine, the technology owner is able to provide screening, extraction, compound analysis and validation tests for natural compounds at the facilities. 

This technology consists of an in vitro infection model using the human gastric epithelial cell line AGS to evaluate anti-Helicobacter activity of natural extracts.

• The AGS cells are obtained from a reputable source (ATCC) and cultured under recommended conditions.
• The H. pylori strain is acquired from an accredited repository (ATCC).
• Assay parameters are established as per CLSI guidelines to ensure quality control.
• The AGS cells are infected with a standardized inoculum of H. pylori and co-incubated with the test extracts.
• After infection, H. pylori burden is quantified using immunofluorescence with antibodies specific to H. pylori and high-throughput imaging with the Operetta system.

This provides a robust and reproducible platform to quantify the anti-Helicobacter efficacy of natural extracts in a physiologically relevant gastric cell model.

Pharmaceutical industry:

• Drug discovery screening for new anti-H. pylori agents
• Preclinical validation of lead therapeutic compounds
• Evaluating combination therapies with antibiotics

Nutraceutical industry:

• Substantiating health claims of traditional medicines and botanicals
• Developing supplements and functional foods for H. pylori infection

Diagnostics industry:

• Testing for antibiotic susceptibility of clinical isolates

Academic research:

• Investigating H. pylori pathogenesis in gastric cells
• Screening novel anti-infective approaches like nanoparticles

Food industry:

• Testing natural extracts and food products for anti-H. pylori effects
• Developing functional foods with anti-H. pylori benefits

Ideal partners for collaboration and value chain integration include:

• Natural product companies/academic groups with extracts libraries to screen
• Contract Research Organizations (CROs) that perform assay development and High Throughput Screening (HTS)
• Gastroenterology researchers and hospitals that can provide H. pylori clinical isolates and patient samples 
• HTS system distributors for supporting imaging and analysis
• Pharma/nutraceutical companies for commercialization of validated lead extracts

The global market for Helicobacter pylori infection treatment is poised for robust growth, expected to reach US$ 1.26 billion by 2033 as per Future Market Insights. Rising prevalence coupled with antibiotic resistance drives demand for novel therapies. The technology provides a reliable in-house in vitro screening platform for the development of scientifically validated phytotherapies and functional foods. Standardized validation will enable rapid translation into premium nutraceuticals and therapeutics for the underserved natural medicine segment. As H. pylori prevalence is higher in developing countries, a large market would be seeking cost-effective, efficacious and natural solutions. This presents a timely opportunity to license a cost-effective screening technology with applications across pharmaceuticals, supplements, and food. Our platform accelerates R&D and commercialization of alternative therapies to combat a growing global infection.

The current state-of-the-art for anti-H. pylori drug discovery relies on conventional antimicrobial screening models that do not replicate human gastric physiology. This leads to poor translation from in vitro efficacy to clinical outcomes. Our approach provides a physiologically relevant infection model using human gastric cells that enables better predicting efficacy. The standardized and robust platform allows for a high throughput screening unmatched by current animal models in scale and cost. By accommodating natural product libraries, synthetic compounds, and combinations, it can unlock novel therapies beyond conventional antibiotics. The model helps to scientifically validate traditional medicines to meet regulatory and consumer demand for evidence-based natural options. With applications across pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food sectors, this versatile screening platform has the potential to outperform current state-of-the-art in replicating human gastritis pathology.