A review on conventional and herbal drug approach to peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcer, a common digestive ailment, has been considered as an inflammatory response and necrotic lesions of the gastric mucosa. Peptic ulcer reaches intensely to the mucosal muscle layer in the stomach and duodenum. Various factors have been documented to be involved in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers like Helicobacter pylori, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acid and pepsin, genetics, and smoking. The conventional use of drugs like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine (H2) receptor antagonists, antacids, potassium competitive acid blockers, and antibiotics has shown antiulcer effects. However, various researches have shown that herbal drugs can successfully treat peptic ulcers in preclinical and clinical models by different mechanisms. Many herbal drugs and their extracts from different parts like root, stem, leaf, flower, and seed showed potent ulcerprotective effects in the experimental setup. This review critically discusses the factors involved in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers. In addition, the potential of herbal drug extracts has been highlighted in the present review.