Research Progress on Traditional Chinese Medicine Interventions for Helicobacter Pylori

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is a major global cause of gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. With rising antibiotic resistance, integrated Chinese and Western medicine approaches for treating Hp infection have gained increasing attention. This systematic review summarizes recent advances in TCM research for Hp infection prevention and treatment, exploring the mechanisms of action, clinical applications, and future directions of single-herb and compound TCM formulations. Studies indicate that TCM exerts effects through multiple pathways, including direct antibacterial activity, immune modulation, gastric mucosal repair, and improvement of intestinal microecology. Active components such as berberine, Coptis chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Panax notoginseng saponins inhibit Hp growth and reduce inflammatory responses; Compound formulas like Lianpu Decoction, Banxia Xiexin Decoction, and Jiawei Xiangshaliujunzi Decoction demonstrate promising efficacy in enhancing Hp eradication rates, alleviating symptoms, and mitigating antibiotic side effects. Furthermore, TCM syndrome differentiation studies indicate that spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome is most prevalent in Hp infection, arising from dietary imbalances and the accumulation of damp-heat pathogenic factors.