Effect of the Folk Remedy, Bainiku‐ekisu, a Concentrate of Prunus mume Juice, on Helicobacter pylori Infection in Humans

Background:  Bainiku‐ekisu, a concentrate of Japanese apricot ( Prunus mume ) juice, is a traditional Japanese folk remedy for treatment of dyspepsia since more than a thousand years ago. Fujita et al. previously reported in vitro antibacterial effect of Bainiku‐ekisu to Helicobacter pylori . We conducted an in vivo pilot study to evaluate the possibility that Bainiku‐ekisu may have an antibacterial effect on H. pylori in the human stomach. Materials and Methods:  Consecutive 18  H. pylori ‐positive subjects were included. Approximately 130 mL 1% Bainiku‐ekisu solution was ingested by the subjects twice a day for 12 weeks. Urea breath test (UBT) was performed before ingestion, and 2 and 12 weeks after starting ingestion of Bainiku‐ekisu, and UBT values were compared. Results:  Bainiku‐ekisu therapy resulted in a slight fall in UBT values after 2 weeks (from 30.1 ± 6 to 23.5 ± 6 in ITT analysis, p  = .094; from 31.2 ± 6 to 24.7 ± 6 in PP analysis, p  = .124) (data are shown with mean ± SE). In two instances (11%), the UBT values became negative. Fourteen subjects completed the trial for 12 weeks and there was no significant change in UBT values (from 30.1 ± 6 to 25.9 ± 6 in ITT analysis, p  = .450; from 35.6 ± 6 to 31.4 ± 7 in PP analysis, p =  .555). Conclusion:  Our results are consistent with the antibacterial effect of Bainiku‐ekisu on H. pylori in the human stomach. However, the bacteria were not successfully eradicated with 2‐ or 12‐week ingestion of a Bainiku‐ekisu solution. Subsequent studies will need to identify a clinically useful regimen.