Abstract

QUINTERO DIAZ, Myrna et al. Use of viscous gel Aloe^® in treatment of patients presenting duodenal ulcer and positive Helicobacter pylori. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2009, vol.14, n.4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1028-4796.

INTRODUCTION: Aloe vera (sin. A. barbadensis) (aloe or sábila) is a plant with numerous medicinal properties. Preclinical studies have showed the antiulcerous action without toxic effects of the aqueous extracts from fresh leaves. In literature there was not a clinical trial similar to present study. OBJECTIVE: to compare the effect of viscous gel Aloe® formulation and amoxicillin administered to ambulatory patients presenting with duodenal ulcer and positive Helicobacter pylori, according to urease test on ulcer endoscopic course and on behavior of Helicobacter pylori in a control group. METHODS: the two Aloe groups received two different dose (1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg of body weight) during six weeks and amoxicillin (1 500 mg/d) during 10 days. Control group received ranitidine (300 mg/d) for sis weeks and amoxillin in similar way that Aloe groups. RESULTS: seventy six patients completed the treatment distributed into three groups; leading symptoms (pain and heartburn) in patients disappearing before two weeks of treatment in the 94 %. Although in control group treated with ranitidine + amoxicillin, duodenal ulcers healed in a higher proportion and there was a higher percentage of negativity of H. pylori, it was not significant regarding the group with higher dose of Aloe. CONCLUSIONS: effects obtained with Aloe use at a higher dose plus the amoxicillin, since it is a product of vegetal origin, which is used for the first time, it was considered as acceptable. Authors propose a controlled trial of this product combined with two antibiotics in a greater number of patients.

Keywords : Aloe vera; sábila; amoxicillin; duodenal ulcer; Helicobacter pylori.