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Short Communication Volume 14 Issue 2
Inhibition of urease as a central mechanism underlying the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of chios mastic gum
Mosab Nouraldein Mohammed Hamad
Received: March 30, 2026 | Published: April 20, 2026
Citation: Hamad MNM. Inhibition of urease as a central mechanism underlying the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of chios mastic gum. J Microbial Exp. 2026;14(2):37-38. DOI: 10.15406/jmen.2026.14.00455
Abstract
Mastic gum, a natural resin derived from Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia, has been traditionally used for gastrointestinal disorders. Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium that chronically colonizes the human stomach and is strongly associated with peptic ulcer disease and gastric malignancies. The increasing resistance to conventional antibiotic therapy has prompted the search for alternative treatments. This paper explores the antibacterial activity of Chios mastic gum (CMG) against H. pylori , with particular emphasis on its mechanism as a natural urease inhibitor. CMG is rich in bioactive triterpenic acids, including masticadienonic and isomasticadienonic acids, which exhibit significant antiinflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Urease plays a critical role in H. pylori survival by neutralizing gastric acidity through ammonia production. We hypothesize that the anti-H. pylori effect of mastic gum is primarily mediated through inhibition of urease activity, thereby impairing bacterial colonization and pathogenicity. This mechanism highlights the therapeutic potential of CMG as a natural, safer alternative to synthetic urease inhibitors.
Keywords: Mastic gum; Helicobacter pylori; urease inhibition; triterpenic acids; natural products; gastric ulcer; antimicrobial activity
©2026 Hamad. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.