H Pylori
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2007; 13(3): 349-354
Published online Jan 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i3.349
Red wine and green tea reduce H pylori- or VacA-induced gastritis in a mouse model
Paolo Ruggiero, Giacomo Rossi, Francesco Tombola, Laura Pancotto, Laura Lauretti, Giuseppe Del Giudice, Mario Zoratti
Paolo Ruggiero, Laura Pancotto, Laura Lauretti, Giuseppe Del Giudice, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics s.r.l., Research Center, Siena, Italy
Giacomo Rossi, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Camerino, Matelica, Italy
Francesco Tombola, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy
Francesco Tombola, Mario Zoratti, CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Section for Biomembranes, Padova, Italy
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Paolo Ruggiero, Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics s.r.l., Research Center, Via Fiorentina 1, Siena I-53100, Italy. paolo.ruggiero@novartis.com
Telephone: +39-577-243111 Fax: +39-577-243564
Received: October 9, 2006
Revised: November 2, 2006
Accepted: December 1, 2006
Published online: January 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate whether red wine and green tea could exert anti-H pylori or anti-VacA activity in vivo in a mouse model of experimental infection.

METHODS: Ethanol-free red wine and green tea concentrates were administered orally as a mixture of the two beverages to H pylori infected mice, or separately to VacA-treated mice. Gastric colonization and gastric inflammation were quantified by microbiological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses.

RESULTS: In H pylori-infected mice, the red wine and green tea mixture significantly prevented gastritis and limited the localization of bacteria and VacA to the surface of the gastric epithelium. Similarly, both beverages significantly prevented gastric epithelium damage in VacA-treated mice; green tea, but not red wine, also altered the VacA localization in the gastric epithelium.

CONCLUSION: Red wine and green tea are able to prevent H pylori-induced gastric epithelium damage, possibly involving VacA inhibition. This observation supports the possible relevance of diet on the pathological outcome of H pylori infection.

Keywords: VacA; H pylori; Gastritis; Wine; Tea; Polyphenols