Linolenic acid, a component of vegetable oils, is key to destroying the bacteria strongly associated with gastric ulcers and cancer, a new study says.

The findings could lead to new treatment for gastric diseases.

"Current Helicobacter pylori bacterium treatments are facing a major challenge - antibiotic resistance," said Liangfang Zhang, professor at the University of California` San Diego School of Medicine.

"Our goal was to develop a nanotherapeutic that can tolerate the harsh gastric environment, kill H. pylori and avoid resistance," Zhang added.

To combat the infection caused by Helicobacter pylori the researchers developed LipoLLA, a therapeutic nanoparticle that contains the vegetable oil component linolenic acid.

In mice, LipoLLA was safe and more effective against the infection than standard antibiotic treatments.

What is more, LipoLLA was not toxic to the mice and the bacteria did not develop resistance to the therapy.

"This is the first step to verify that we can make this therapeutic nanoparticle and demonstrate that it works to reduce H. pylori colonisation. We are now working to further enhance the particle, making it more stable and more effective," Zhang said.

The findings appeared in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.