Efficacy of herbal medicine (Thatbunjob) in the treatment of foodborne illness: A placebo-controlled, randomized trial

Background

Foodborne illness (FI) causes 600 million cases and 420,000 deaths annually. Current treatments focus on rehydration and antispasmodic medications for managing dehydration and abdominal pain (AP). However, alternative therapies, especially those derived from natural ingredients, are needed. This study investigates the potential efficacy of herbal medicine,Thatbunjob as a complementary therapy for FI-related AP.

Methods

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessed the efficacy of Thatbunjob in relieving AP in FI patients. A total of 114 patients, aged 18–60, with AP and diarrhea (≥3 episodes in 24 h), received either two 500 mg capsules of Thatbunjob or a placebo three times daily for three days. Both groups also received standard oral rehydration therapy. Primary outcomes included AP intensity using a visual analog scale (VAS) at 24 h, while secondary outcomes included pain at 48 and 72 h, responder rates, hyoscine butyl bromide usage, stool frequency, and adverse events.

Results

The Thatbunjob group showed significantly greater reduction in AP compared to the placebo. VAS scores decreased from 5.69 to 2.95 at 24 h (P < 0.001), and pain relief persisted at 48 (1.43 vs. 3.05, P < 0.001) and 72 h (0.32 vs. 1.86, P < 0.001). Thatbunjob also reduced the need for hyoscine tablets and decreased stool frequency compared to placebo.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that Thatbunjob, when combined with standard rehydration therapy, effectively alleviates AP and reduces stool frequency in FI patients.

Trial registration

Thai Clinical Trials Registry, TCTR20220823001.