Iberis amara L. and Iberogast^® – a systematic review concerning dyspepsia

Objective

The symptoms of dyspepsia are well known and have received an increasing interest in medicine in the last years, as shown in the development of the ROME-I and II criteria and new drugs. In German-speaking countries especially, Iberis amara L. is a plant with a long-standing tradition in the treatment of functional dyspepsia. In the herbal preparation Iberogast it is combined with eight plant extracts.

Materials and methods

In a systematic review, data of differing levels of evidence have been examined focusing on safety and efficacy of Iberis and Iberogast. Researches have been performed in the databases of AMED, Biosis, Current Contents, EMBASE, Medline (period 1970–2002; search terms were Iberis and Iberogast) and additionally in the data on file with the producer.

Results

RCTs: for dyspepsia, four multicentric, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trials with a total of 520 patients (reduction of symptoms: Iberogast (I) 57–65%/placebo 25–57%) showed a statistically significant and therapeutically relevant reduction of the gastrointestinal symptom scores. A comparative study with cisapride (C) in dyspepsia with 183 patients showed at least an equivalent efficacy (I 80%/C 72%).

Observational studies: the therapeutic efficacy of the above-mentioned trials was also found in two observational studies (n = 2267 and n = 2548 patients).

Conclusion

According to the available evidence, Iberogast is an effective phytotherapeutic preparation to reduce the symptoms of dyspepsia yet without central nervous side-effects.