Efficacy and safety of herbal medicines in treating gastric ulcer: a review

Abstract

Gastric ulcer is a common disorder of the digestive system. Current therapeutic regimens largely rely on Western medicine. However, numerous studies have demonstrated that herbal medicines can effectively treat gastric ulcer in humans and various animal models via divergent mechanisms. This review updates the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines in treating gastric ulcer, and the mechanisms of their action in humans and animal models. Studies have demonstrated that the efficacy of herbal medicines is comparable or superior to that of drugs such as omeprazole or cimetidine in humans and animal models, and herbal medicines display fewer adverse effects. The mechanisms by which herbal medicines benefit gastric ulcer include stimulation of mucous cell proliferation, anti-oxidation, and inhibition of gastric acid secretion and H(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity. Some herbal medicines also exhibit antimicrobial properties. Utilization of herbal medicines could be a valuable alternative to treat gastric ulcer in humans effectively, with few adverse effects.

Keywords: Gastric ulcer; Herbal medicines; Mechanism of action.

Figure 1

Schematic diagram of possible mechanisms by which herbal medicines benefit gastric ulcer. bFGF: Basic fibroblast growth factor; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor; EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor.