Natural Products as Gastroprotective and Antiulcer Agents: Recent Developments

Abstract

Peptic ulcer, one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases, is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by ulceration in the regions of the upper gastrointestinal tract where parietal cells are found and where they secrete hydrochloric acid and pepsin. 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, Helicobacter pylori and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and local mucosal defensive factors, such as mucus bicarbonate, blood flow and prostaglandins. Several drugs are widely used to prevent or treat gastro-duodenal ulcers. These include H 2-receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors and cytoprotectives. Due to problems associated with recurrence after treatment, there is therefore the need to seek alternative drug sources against ulcers. In recent years, a widespread search has been launched to identify new gastroprotective drugs from natural sources. The aim of the present review is to highlight the recent advances in current knowledge on natural products as gastroprotective and antiulcer agents and consider the future perspectives for the use of these compounds.

Further mulinane diterpenoids from Azorella compacta

“…Medicinal plants that are traditionally used to treat ulcers are one of the most attractive sources of natural products as gastroprotective agents. [18][19][20][21][22] The gastroprotective activity of terpenes of various skeletal types under different experimental conditions has been reported in the literature but showed significant activity only at a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg. [19][20][21][22][23] In a previous study, we found a gastroprotective effect of some of the ferruginol derivatives tested that was comparable with the Azorella diterpenoids reported here under the same experimental conditions (20 mg/kg).…”

“…[18][19][20][21][22] The gastroprotective activity of terpenes of various skeletal types under different experimental conditions has been reported in the literature but showed significant activity only at a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg. [19][20][21][22][23] In a previous study, we found a gastroprotective effect of some of the ferruginol derivatives tested that was comparable with the Azorella diterpenoids reported here under the same experimental conditions (20 mg/kg). [24] However, in comparison with poligodial, carnosol, 6,7-royleanone, 7,20epoxiroyleanone, royleanone and horminone, under the same the conditions, the gastroprotective effect of Azorella diterpenes is lower.…”

Gastroprotective Activity of Epitaondiol and Sargaol

“…Many plants have been used in traditional medicine to treat different diseases, including gastrointestinal disorders. Among the naturally-occurring compounds in plants, terpenes or their derivatives have been shown to possess gastroprotective activity in different models of gastric lesions in animals [1,2]. Recently, two plastoquinones and a chromene from the brown alga Sargassum micracanthum were shown to display antiulcer effects on HCl/EtOH induced gastric lesions [3].…”

“…Although in most cases the origin of gastric ulcer is unknown, it is generally accepted that it is the result of an imbalance between defensive and aggressive factors in the gastric mucosa [2,9]. Oral administration of the HCl/ethanol solution to mice clearly produced multiple hemorrhagic lesions in the glandular portion of the stomach.…”

“…Oral administration of the HCl/ethanol solution to mice clearly produced multiple hemorrhagic lesions in the glandular portion of the stomach. This damage may be due to a direct action on the gastric epithelium causing lipid peroxidation, reduction of blood flow and solubilization of gastric mucus [2,9].…”