# Anti-Helicobacter pylori Activity and Gastroprotective Effects of Diacetylcurcumin and Four Metal Derivatives

## TL;DR

This study explores the anti-H. pylori and stomach-protecting effects of diacetylcurcumin and its metal derivatives, finding that copper and zinc complexes show strong potential as new treatments.

## Contribution

The study introduces DAC2-Cu and DAC2-Zn as novel metal derivatives with effective anti-H. pylori activity and gastroprotective properties.

## Key findings

- DAC2-Cu and DAC2-Zn inhibit H. pylori growth and urease activity effectively.
- These compounds provided 70% gastroprotection in an ethanol-induced ulcer model.
- They showed no toxicity in subacute toxicity tests in mice.

## Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is the main etiological factor of gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. This bacterium’s antibiotic resistance has led to a lower eradication rate; therefore, new drugs with anti-H. pylori activity are needed. Curcumin exhibits multiple biological activities, but it has low stability and poor bioavailability. To overcome these disadvantages, different metal complexes have been synthesized. The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro anti-H. pylori activity of diacetylcurcumin (DAC), DAC2-Cu, DAC2-Zn, DAC2-Mn, and DAC2-Mg by obtaining the minimum inhibitory concentration of bacterial growth, and to investigate some mechanisms by which they could affect the bacteria (urease and DNA gyrase activities). Moreover, their gastroprotective potential was assayed in an ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in mice. The results showed that DAC2-Cu and DAC2-Zn have good anti-H. pylori activity, exhibit specific activity against this bacterium, inhibit the urease activity, and provide 70% gastroprotection at a dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight. In a subacute toxicity study in mice, DAC2-Cu and DAC2-Zn did not cause death or any deleterious symptoms, nor did they have a significant effect on serum and urine biochemical parameters compared to control mice. These compounds are promising candidates for use in H. pylori eradication schemes.