Natural products as gastroprotective and antiulcer agents: recent developments

Peptic ulcer, one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases, is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by ulcerationin the regions of the upper gastrointestinal tract where parietal cells are found and where they secrete hydrochloric acid andpepsin. The anatomical sites where ulcer occurs commonly are stomach and duodenum, causing gastric and duodenal ulcer,respectively. Physiopathology of ulcer is due to an imbalance between aggressive factors, such as acid, pepsin, Helicobacterpylori and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and local mucosal defensive factors, such as mucus bicarbonate, blood flowand prostaglandins. Several drugs are widely used to prevent or treat gastro-duodenal ulcers. These include H2-receptorantagonists, proton pump inhibitors and cytoprotectives. Due to problems associated with recurrence after treatment, there istherefore the need to seek alternative drug sources against ulcers. In recent years, a widespread search has been launched toidentify new gastroprotective drugs from natural sources. The aim of the present review is to highlight the recent advances incurrent knowledge on natural products as gastroprotective and antiulcer agents and consider the future perspectives for the useof these compounds.