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Previous Volume 339:1946 December 24, 1998 Number 26 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: Even low doses of mastic gum — 1 mg per day for two weeks — can cure peptic ulcers very rapidly, but the mechanism responsible has not been clear. We have found that mastic is active against Helicobacter pylori, which could explain its therapeutic effect in patients with peptic ulcers.

Mastic is a resinous exudate obtained from the stem and the main leaves of Pistacia lentiscus. It is used as a food ingredient in the Mediterranean region. Clinically, mastic has been effective in the treatment of benign gastric ulcers¹ and duodenal ulcers.² In rats, mastic showed cytoprotective . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Loughlin, M. F., Ala'Aldeen, D. A., Jenks, P. J. (2003). Monotherapy with mastic does not eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection from mice. J Antimicrob Chemother 51: 367-371 [Abstract] [Full Text]