Review
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2014; 20(45): 17020-17028
Published online Dec 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i45.17020
Efficacy and safety of herbal medicines in treating gastric ulcer: A review
Wei-Ping Bi, Hui-Bin Man, Mao-Qiang Man
Wei-Ping Bi, Hui-Bin Man, Department of Internal Medicine, Wendeng Central Hospital, Wendeng 264400, Shandong Province, China
Mao-Qiang Man, Dermatology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States
Mao-Qiang Man, Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States
Author contributions: Man HB performed literature search and drafted the manuscript; Man MQ critically reviewed the manuscript; Bi WP designed the project and wrote the manuscript; all authors have read and approved the final version to be published.
Correspondence to: Wei-Ping Bi, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Wendeng Central Hospital, 3 East Mishan Road, Wendeng 264400, Shandong Province, China. bwpmyh@163.com
Telephone: +86-631-8772731 Fax: +86-631-8772731
Received: May 6, 2014
Revised: June 18, 2014
Accepted: July 22, 2014
Published online: December 7, 2014
Processing time: 218 Days and 12.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Gastric ulcer is a common digestive disorder. Herbal medicines can effectively treat gastric ulcers in humans and various animal models. The efficacy of herbal medicines is comparable or superior to drugs such as omeprazole or cimetidine, 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 as well as 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.