Evidence-Based Siddha Antimicrobial Research (Kunmakudori Mezhugu) for Translational Medicine
Keywords:
Siddha medicine, Kunmakudori Mezhugu, Helicobacter pylori, Antimicrobial activity, Translational medicine, Gastroprotection, Urease inhibition, Phytochemicals, Drug discovery, Peptic ulcer disease.Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections worldwide and is strongly associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric cancer. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains has reduced the effectiveness of conventional eradication therapies, necessitating the exploration of alternative and complementary antimicrobial strategies. Siddha medicine, a traditional medical system practiced in South India, offers a rich repository of herbal and herbo-mineral formulations for the management of gastrointestinal disorders. Among these, Kunmakudori Mezhugu has traditionally been used for conditions resembling chronic gastritis, gastric ulceration, and digestive disturbances, making it a potential candidate for antimicrobial drug research and translational medicine applications.
Objective: To review the available evidence regarding the antimicrobial potential of Kunmakudori Mezhugu and its constituent ingredients against Helicobacter pylori, and to evaluate its relevance in translational medicine and antimicrobial drug development.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, MEDLINE, and the AYUSH Research Portal. Classical Siddha texts, pharmacological studies, microbiological investigations, phytochemical analyses, molecular docking studies, and translational medicine reports published between 2000 and 2025 were systematically reviewed. Information related to phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activity, anti-H. pylori effects, urease inhibition, anti-biofilm properties, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, and gastroprotective mechanisms was extracted and synthesized.
Results: The reviewed evidence demonstrated that the medicinal ingredients associated with Kunmakudori Mezhugu contain diverse bioactive compounds including flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, glycosides, and saponins. These phytochemicals exhibited antimicrobial activity through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of bacterial growth, suppression of urease activity, disruption of biofilm formation, interference with bacterial adhesion, and modulation of virulence factors. In addition to direct antimicrobial effects, the formulation's constituent ingredients demonstrated significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and gastroprotective properties that may contribute to the management of H. pylori-associated gastric disorders. Molecular docking studies further supported the interaction of plant-derived compounds with key H. pylori targets such as urease, DNA gyrase, and adhesins, highlighting their potential as lead molecules for antimicrobial drug development.
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