1. Petiveria alliacea L.
Extract for the Treatment of
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Edwin J. Alvarado

2. Petiveria alliacea L.
• Petiveria alliacea L., also known as Anamú or garlic weed, is
a very influential plant in traditional medicine.
• Proved to possess antibacterial1 and analgesic2 properties,
among others.
• Both contribute to the plant’s reputation for calming
GERD symptoms.

3. Question/Problem
• Can the extract from the Petiveria alliacea L. affect the
stomach’s pH or, more ideally, the stomach’s acid
irrigation?

4. Hypothesis
• If the contents of the stomach are irrigated with the
plant’s extract, the pH levels of the acid will increase,
inhibiting the stomach’s acid irrigation over a long
term exposition, sparing damage to the organs
involved.

5. Chemical Experiment
• Prepare a solution of HCl, KCl and NaCl, among
others, add consecutive doses of extract and record
pH.
• To determine if extract acts as a buffer solution.
• If true, determine buffer region.

6. In Vivo Experiment
• Organism: Mice / Rats
• Quantity: 20 per group (80 in total)
• Variables:Presence of extract in ingestion
Presence of acid promoters
Prowess over time
• Period: 4 weeks

7. Experimental Groups

• Group A 
• P. alliacea extract
• No acid promoter
foods

8. Control Group
• Group D (NEGATIVE CONTROL)
• No P. alliacea extract
• No acid promoter foods

9. Methodology
• Strict, standardized diets, varying only aforementioned factors.
• After each week, collect five specimens from each group and
extract stomach contents.
• Analyze pH, acid concentration, gastric component
concentration.
• Interpret results.

10. Objectives
• To determine if the extract “neutralizes” the stomach’s pH and in
what capacity.
• To determine if the extract affects the stomach’s acid irrigation and in
what capacity.
• To determine efficiency, if any, in abnormal stomach conditions.
• To determine the efficiency, if any, of short term treatment versus
long term.

11. Goal
• Provide those afflicted with GERD an alternative
treatment that both relieves pain and controls the
disease

12. References
1. Kim S, Kubic R, Musah RA. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of
sulfur-containing compounds from Petiveria Alliacea L. 2005. Available
from: http://www.sciencedirect.com. Accessed: 2012 June 21.
2. Lopes-Martins RAB, Pegoraro DH, Woisky R, Penna SC, Sertié JAA.
The anti-Inflammatory and analgesic effects of a crude extract of
Petiveria Alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae). 2004. Available from:
http://www.sciencedirect.com. Accessed: 2012 June 21.