Conifer Green Needle Complex in Patients with Precancerous Gastric Lesions: An Observational Pilot Study

Objectives. Helicobacter pylori infection is common and can lead to precancerous gastric lesions. Standard antibiotic therapy has a failure rate of more than 25% from antibiotic resistance. The primary aim of this observational pilot study was to test the feasibility of a large-scale clinical trial of Conifer Green Needle Complex (CGNC) to treat precancerous gastric lesions. Secondary aims were to investigate H. pylori infection, stomach function, and histopathology of the gastric mucosa. Methods. A tablet form of CGNC (extracted from Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies (L) Karst) was prescribed to 26 patients with precancerous gastric lesions (two tablets, 100 mg CGNC/tablet, three times per day for six months). Another 24 patients received no treatment. Results. Compared with control patients, CGNC-treated patients showed total or partial regression (using the quantitative Rome III diagnostic criteria) of dyspeptic symptoms (92.3%, p < 0.0001), eradication of H. pylori infection (57.1%, p < 0.03), a reduction in endoscopic signs of gastritis (92.3%, p < 0.001), an increase of pepsinogen-pepsin in the gastric juice (57.7%, p < 0.05), and total regression or reduction in the degree of intestinal metaplasia (46.2%, p < 0.05) and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration (53.8%, p < 0.05). Conclusions. This study justifies a randomised-controlled trial with CGNC in patients with atrophic gastritis.