A new in-vitro study published in the scientific journal Foods in December 2023 shows that the combination of Cistus x incanus L. and Castanea sativa Mill. (Gastalagin®) may be an ideal candidate to counteract gastric discomfort due to H. pylori, a bacterium that, according to literature sources, is present in 50% of the human population.
Plants of the genus Cistus have traditionally been used in the Mediterranean area to treat inflammatory and infectious diseases, including gastrointestinal disorders. The aerial parts of the Cistaceae, including Cistus x incanus L., are in fact rich in polyphenols such as condensed and hydrolysable tannins, procyanidins and flavonoids, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-adhesive properties, with gastroprotective action.
A previous study published in March 2023 in the scientific journal Nutrients had also shown that two ellagitannins contained in chestnut leaves would play an important role in the interaction between H. pylori and the human gastric epithelium, with demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties through the inhibition of the transcription factor NF-kB, primarily involved in the response to infection.
The ground for the blend therefore relies on the observation that the biological activity of chestnut and Cistus x incanus L. are only partially overlapped, the antibacterial effect prevailing in Cistus x incanus L. and the anti-inflammatory effect in chestnut leaves.
The study, conducted by the Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences ‘Rodolfo Paoletti’, University of Milan, is the first demonstration of the synergistic activity of the two extracts in-vitro against H. pylori infection.
To find out more about Gastalagin®, the new patented EPO extract, a blend of Castanea sativa Mill. and Cistus x incanus L. standardised in castalagin and vescalagin, with anti-inflammatory activity on the gastric mucosa and specific antibacterial action on Helicobacter pylori, read our article on botanicals for digestive disorders and Helicobacter pylori infection.