Coptis, Pinellia, and Scutellaria as a promising new drug combination for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Research background

Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with severe digestive diseases, while successful eradication of this pathogen is known to prevent the occurrence of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer.

Research motivation

H. pylori eradication has become more challenging over the past decade due to increasing antimicrobial resistance. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages for treating H. pylori infection, which can reduce drug resistance and increase the eradication rate of H. pylori.

Research objectives

To effectively treat H. pylori infection in the future, we need efficient therapeutic agents or strategies.

Research methods

Here, we attempted to identify medication rules, effective materials, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of TCM against H. pylori using data mining, in vivo experiment, and network pharmacology.

Research results

Coptis, Pinellia, and Scutellaria (CPS) were identified as the core drug combination for H. pylori eradication. We evidenced that CPS eradicated H. pylori, alleviated the gastric pathology, and reduced circulating tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β levels. Nine key compounds and nine hub target proteins were further determined as the key active ingredients and therapeutic targets of CPS against H. pylori, respectively.

Research conclusions

Altogether, our data strongly suggest that the efficacy of CPS in the treatment of H. pylori is worthy of affirmation.

Research perspectives

We will further explore the mechanism of CPS in treating H. pylori infection through in vitro and in vivo experiments based on the close association between an H. pylori-induced persistent chronic inflammatory state and gastric cancer progression and extra-gastric diseases.