Chios mastic gum has been used as a traditional medicine over the last 2500 years. More than 120 chemical compounds have been identified in the resin and the major components are a natural polymer, acidic and neutral triterpenes and volatile secondary metabolites. Several plant extracts and compounds have been studied for their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, cardioprotective and anti-cancer properties in vitro and in vivo. Clinical interventions and trials have also showed the therapeutic potential of Chios mastic gum.

The antimicrobial effect of mastic gum, an ancient remedy for oral malodor, againstPorphyromonas gingivalis, a known odorogenic periopathogenic oral bacterium, was tested using the agar diffusion test. Paper discs impregnated with mastic gum methanolic extract (MME) [0.5–4% (wt/vol)] produced inhibition zones of 10.5–13.7 mm, respectively, without showing signs of hemolysis, whereas chlorhexidine (0.2%)-impregnated discs, which showed greater inhibition (33.5 mm), also produced large and distinctive hemolytic zones (17 mm).

After eight weeks, the TM group reduced total cholesterol by 11.5 mg/dl (p < 0.05) and FPG by 4.5 mg/dl (p < 0.05) adjusted for age, gender, BMI and baseline characteristics. The effect was stronger in overweight and obese patients (BMI > 25), with an estimated mean reduction of total cholesterol by 13.5 mg/dl (p < 0.05) and FPG by 5.1 mg/dl (p < 0.05). Administration of PFM and PM resulted in no statistically significant alteration. No effect was observed on LDL, HDL, triglycerides, uric acid and CRP. No gastrointestinal, liver or renal adverse events were recorded.

Despite the great progresses in the field of human health and the remarkable development of medical products, natural supplements still stimulate medical research interests. In this context, existing literature suggests that Chios mastic possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties promoting it for the treatment of various diseases and, in particular, IBD. The limited number of research data in IBD, however, comes from studies on experimental animal or cellular models, and the number of human studies in this direction is, for the time being, scant.....

Despite the great progress that has been made on human health and the remarkable ongoing development in medical products, there is an increasing interest, nowadays, for natural supplements that may exert beneficial health effects. In this context, the existing data suggest that Chios mastic possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties which could be utilized in the treatment of multiple disorders. Given the emerging antimicrobial resistance trends, the establishment of mastic’s antibacterial efficacy could support its introduction as adjunct therapy in the management of various infectious diseases.

Even low doses of mastic gum — 1 mg per day for two weeks — can cure peptic ulcers very rapidly, but the mechanism responsible has not been clear. We have found that mastic is active against Helicobacter pylori, which could explain its therapeutic effect in patients with peptic ulcers.
Mastic is a resinous exudate obtained from the stem and the main leaves of Pistacia lentiscus. It is used as a food ingredient in the Mediterranean region. Clinically, mastic has been effective in the treatment of benign gastric ulcers1 and duodenal ulcers.2 In rats, mastic showed cytoprotective and mild antisecretory properties.3 We assessed the antibacterial properties of mastic against H. pylori.