Department of Pharmacognosy, Pravara Rural College of Pharmacy, Pravaranagar, Loni.
The field of herbal medicine has grown exponentially in the past several years and due to their natural origins and low side effects, these medications are becoming more and more popular in both developed and developing nations. Anti – ulcer activity of medicinal plants is scientifically evaluated by in – vitro and in – vivo studies. The healing effects of medicinal plants come from the fact that they accommodate a wide range of secondary metabolites, called phytochemicals, which can be synthesized again and again in nature. The richest sources of active metabolites are contained in seeds, bark, roots, leaves, and fruits of plants. Therefore, a multitude of plants have employed these phytochemicals as a defense mechanism against pathogens. These components are classified as alkaloids, tannins, carotenoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, and saponins. While the majority of research concentrated on pharmaceutical action in animal models, many botanical compounds have been shown to have antiulcer activity.
In the last few years there has been an exponential growth in the field of herbal medicine and these drugs are gaining popularity both in developing and developed countries because of their natural origin and less side effects. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed 21,000 plants, which are used for medicinal purposes around the world. Among these 2500 species are in India, out of which 150 species are used commercially on a fairly large scale. India is the largest producer of medicinal herbs and is called as botanical garden of the world. A gastric ulcer is a type of peptic stomach ulcer. A duodenal ulcer is one which develops in the duodenum. When the stomach or duodenum walls become damaged by the acids that aid in food digestion, peptic ulcers result. Infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria is the most frequent cause. Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such ibuprofen and aspirin, is another factor. Although they don't cause ulcers, stress and spicy meals can exacerbate them. A gastric ulcer is a type of peptic stomach ulcer. A duodenal ulcer is one that occurs in the duodenum. When the stomach or duodenum walls are harmed by the acids that aid in food digestion, peptic ulcers result. Infection with Helicobacter pylori is the most prevalent cause, followed by long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin. Stress and spicy meals do not cause ulcers, but they might exacerbate them [1,2]. Natural products from plants are a rich resource used for centuries to cure various ailments. The use of natural medicine in the treatment of various diseases like peptic ulcer is an absolute requirement of our time [3,4].
Symptoms of Ulcers –
The stomach is location to gastric ulcers, which are painful and prevalent in the elderly population. Eating could make pain worse instead than better. Weight loss, nausea, and vomiting are possible additional symptoms. Even though the production of acid is normal or reduced in persons with gastric ulcers, ulcers can still develop when there is no acid at all [5]. Patients with duodenal ulcers, which are located near the beginning of the small intestine, are awakened from sleep by excruciating pain and a burning sensation in the upper belly. Pain usually starts when the stomach is empty and goes away after eating. Duodenal ulcers primarily affect men and are more common in younger people. Both the anterior and posterior walls of the duodenum may develop ulcers [6]. In some cases, peptic ulcer can be life threatening with symptoms like bloody stool, severe abdominal pain, and cramps along with vomiting blood [7].
Medicinal plant having anti – ulcer activity:
Sr.No. |
Plant name |
Family |
Part used |
Extracts |
Active constituents |
Reference |
1. |
Acacia arabica |
Mimosaceae |
Gum |
Aqueous |
Phenolic compounds, tannins, and flavonoids |
8 |
2. |
Terminalia chebula |
Combretaceae |
Fruits |
Methanolic |
Tannins, gallic acid, chebulinic acid, and sorbitol |
9 |
3. |
Adansonia digitata |
Malvaceae |
Leaves |
Fresh juice |
Gum and albuminoids |
10 |
4. |
Aegle marmelos |
Rutaceae |
Fruit |
- |
Flavonoids, tannins, and saponins |
11 |
Leaves |
Aqueous |
12 |
||||
5. |
Aloe vera |
Liliaceae |
Leaves |
Aqueous |
Barbalin, isobarbolin, and saponins |
13 |
6. |
Allium sativum |
Liliaceae |
Bulb |
Bulb juice |
Volatile oil, alliin, and allicin |
14 |
7. |
Annona squamosa |
Annonaceae |
Leaf |
Aqueous |
Tannic acid |
15 |
8. |
Azadirachta indica |
Meliaceae |
Leaf |
Nimbidin fraction |
Stearic and palmitic acid |
16 |
9. |
Bauhinia variegate |
Caesalpiniaceae |
Root |
Ethanolic, Aqueous |
Flavonoids |
17 |
10. |
Careya arborea |
Myrtaceae |
Stem, bark |
Ethanolic |
Tannins and saponins |
18 |
11. |
Carica papaya |
Caricaceae |
Seed |
Aqueous |
Chymopapain and papain |
19 |
12. |
Ficus religiosa |
Urticaceae |
Leaves |
Hydro alcoholic |
Flavonoids, saponins, and tannins |
20 |
13. |
Hibiscus rosa sinensis |
Malvaceae |
Roots |
Aqueous |
Flavonoids and quercetin |
21 |
14. |
Mangifera indica |
Anacardiaceae |
Flower |
Decoction |
Mangiferin |
22 |
15. |
Mimosa pudica |
Fabaceae |
Leaves |
Ethanolic |
Alkaloid mimosine |
23 |
16. |
Momordica charantia |
Cucurbitaceae |
Fruit |
Alcoholic, aqueous |
Flavonoids, saponins, and sterols |
24 |
17. |
Moringa oleifera |
Moringaceae |
Leaves |
Alcoholic |
Quercetin, beta sitosterol, and beta carotene |
25 |
18. |
Ocimum sanctum |
Lamiaceae |
Leaves |
Oil |
Eugenol |
26 |
19. |
Phyllanthus niruri |
Euphorbiaceae |
Aerial part |
Metanolic |
Alkaloids-4-methoxy-securinine, ellagic acid, beta sitosterol, gallic acid, and hypophyllanthin |
27 |
20. |
Psidium guyava |
Myrtaceae |
Leaf |
Methanolic |
Quercetin, guaijaverin, flavonoids, and galactose-specific lecithins |
28 |
21. |
Rhus coriaria |
Anacardiaceae |
Leaves |
Hydro alcoholic |
Flavonoids and tannins |
29 |
22. |
Sesbania grandiflora |
Fabaceae |
Leaf |
Ethanolic |
Tannins and saponins |
30 |
23. |
Shorea robusta |
Dipterocarpaceae |
Resins |
- |
Ursolic acid and amyrin |
31 |
24. |
Solanum nigrum |
Solanaceae |
Leaf |
Aqueous |
Flavonoids |
32 |
25. |
Tamarindus indica |
Caesalpiniaceae |
Seed coat |
Methanolic |
Tannins |
33 |
26. |
Tagetes erecta L. |
Asteraceae |
Flowers |
Hydroalcoholic (Methanol-Water) |
Carotenoid lutein |
34 |
27. |
Punica granatum |
Punicaceae |
Flower |
Ethanolic |
Phenol |
35 |
28. |
Nicotiana tabacum |
Solanaceae |
Leaves |
Ethanolic |
Alkaloid |
36 |
29. |
Glycyrrhiza glabra |
Fabaceae |
Roots |
- |
Glycyrrhizin acid |
37 |
30. |
Taraxacum officinale |
Asteraceae |
Roots |
Aqueous |
- |
38 |
CONCLUSION:
Medicinal plant products are traditionally used in many countries for treatment of Ulcer. Due to the effectiveness, fewer side effects and relatively low-cost herbal drugs are prescribed. The present review has presented comprehensive details of antiulcer plants. Substance and extracts isolated from different natural sources plays important role to treat ulcer problem. All of the remedies presented here had adequate evidence from traditional or scientific source for their efficacy in management of ulcers. There are various medicinal plants and their extracts (containing active chemical constituents, e.g., tannins and flavonoids) that have significant antiulcer activity in in vivo experiments on animal models. The combination of traditional and modern knowledge can produce better drugs for the treatment of peptic ulcer with fewer side effects.
REFERENCES
Dr. Arshu Patel, Viraj Shelke*, Apeksha Fulsundar, A Review on Medicinal Plants with Anti- Ulcer Activity, Int. J. of Pharm. Sci., 2024, Vol 2, Issue 12, 1555-1560. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14410677