Published online Feb 15, 2014. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v5.i1.40
Revised: September 30, 2013
Accepted: October 17, 2013
Published online: February 15, 2014
Processing time: 243 Days and 18.6 Hours
Gastric ulcer is a chronic disease featured with unexpected complications, including bleeding, stenosis and perforation, as well as a high incidence of recurrence. Clinical treatments for gastric ulcer have allowed the rapid development of potent anti-ulcer drugs during the last several decades. Gastric ulcer healing is successful with conventional treatments including H2-receptor antagonists, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been essential for ulcer healing and prevention of complications. Additionally, Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is effective in reducing ulcer recurrence and leads to physiological changes in the gastric mucosa which affect the ulcer healing process. However, in spite of these advancements, some patients have suffered from recurrence or intractability in spite of continuous anti-ulcer therapy. A new concept of the quality of ulcer healing (QOUH) was initiated that considers the reconstruction of the mucosal structure and its function for preventing ulcer recurrence. Although several gastroprotection provided these achievements of the QOUH, which PPI or other acid suppressants did not accomplish, we found that gastroprotection that originated from natural products, such as a newer formulation from either Artemisia or S-allyl cysteine from garlic, were very effective in the QOUH, as well as improving clinical symptoms with fewer side effects. In this review, we will introduce the importance of the QOUH in ulcer healing and the achievements from natural products.
Core tip: Clinical treatments for gastric ulcer have allowed rapid development of potent anti-ulcer drugs, such as H2-receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors, which has been essential for ulcer healing and the prevention of complications. However, many patients have still suffered from recurrence or intractability in spite of continuous anti-ulcer therapy. The concept of the quality of ulcer healing is that we should consider the reconstruction of the mucosal structure and its function for preventing ulcer recurrence. In this review, we will introduce the importance of the quality of ulcer healing and the achievements from natural products.