Effect of <i>Myristica fragrans</i> Houtt. Seed (Nutmeg) on <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> induced gastritis in albino rats: <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies

Abstract

The anti-Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) activities of dichloromethane and methanol extracts of Myristica fragrans Houtt. seed (nutmeg) was studied to authenticate traditional use in gastrointestinal disorder. Anti-H. pylori activities using the agar dilution method was investigated in 39 strains of H. pylori comprising 38 clinical isolates and a standard strain. Bactericidal studies were done by the viable counting technique. The effect of 500 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg body weight of the methanol extract of nutmeg on H. pylori-induced gastritis and colonization was investigated in albino rats. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 6.25 mg/mL while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) ranged from 6.25 mg/mL to 100 mg/mL. Bacterial density score of the gastric mucosa reduced from 5.0 ± 7.07 x 10⁸ to 1.6 ± 1.4 x 10⁴ and 3.45 ± 1.4 x 10⁴ CFU/mL (mean ± SD, p < 0.05) after treatment with 500 mg/kg body weight and Ofloxacin 400 mg/kg respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) tested the effect of the groups on the treatment days and revealed a significant difference between the treatments at p< 0.05. The results of these studies have proven the activities of Myristica fragrans Houtt. seed on H. pylori - induced gastritis in albino rats.

Keywords: Crude extracts, susceptibility testings, bactericidal studies, bacterial inoculation, histopathological examinations.