New discovery from West China Fourth Hospital: Drinking rose tea may be the "natural Nemesis" of Helicobacter pylori
It is reported that researchers carefully selected 17 kinds of plants such as edible roses, black tea, green tea, phyllosia seeds and cloves, extracted their water extracts and put them together to "compete" to see which one is the most effective in inhibiting Helicobacter pylori. Edible roses stand out and take the lead in terms of effect.
Through more in-depth experiments, researchers have revealed the "unique secret recipe" of edible rose in combating Helicobacter pylori: the water extract of edible rose can directly destroy the structure of Helicobacter pylori, transforming it from an active spiral shape into an inactive sphere, with the cell membrane and cell wall separating. The "protective shield" (urease) and "drill bit" (motility and adhesion) of Helicobacter pylori have been greatly weakened by the water extract of edible rose, preventing it from colonizing in the stomach and causing damage. Even more astonishingly, even for Helicobacter pylori strains that have already developed drug resistance in clinical practice, consuming rose water extract can still keep them intact.
Research has found that consuming flavonoids and polyphenols in roses (such as quercetin, ellagic acid, and luteolin) can act on multiple key targets and inhibit Helicobacter pylori infection by down-regulating a signaling pathway called PI3K/AKT in gastric epithelial cells.
The most surprising thing is that researchers have found that even without a complex extraction process, just like when we usually brew and drink rose tea, the tea soup obtained can already significantly inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori.
It is reported that about half of the world's population is infected with Helicobacter pylori, and the infection rate in China fluctuates between 35.4% and 74.13%. It is mainly spread through "mouth-to-mouth", "fecal-to-mouth", sharing bowls and chopsticks, and unclean water sources. So often when one person falls ill, the whole family may be affected together! Not eating separately, having the habit of picking up food, and feeding children mouth-to-mouth are all dangerous actions.
If infected and left untreated, Helicobacter pylori may settle down in the human stomach for life, gradually causing damage, from chronic gastritis to gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, and even leading to gastric cancer. The research also found that it may be related to diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and atherosclerosis.
Regarding the above research findings, researchers stated: "This not only indicates that edible roses have the potential to be developed into new drugs, but also suggests that drinking some edible rose tea in daily life might be a simple, cost-effective way of prevention and auxiliary health care."
Meanwhile, researchers also pointed out that this study is currently only an in vitro experiment. It was found that eating roses has antibacterial potential, but it cannot yet prove that drinking rose tea can treat human infections. It cannot replace drug treatment but can be used as a daily auxiliary health behavior. If Helicobacter pylori infection has been diagnosed, please strictly follow the doctor's advice for standardized treatment and do not delay the condition.
