Natural Antiulcerogenic Agents: An Overview

Extensive use of certain drugs, changes in lifestyles and food habits, as well as stress factors in modern human lives have led to an exponential increase in the incidence of gastric ulceration. The ideal anti-ulcer drug with less side effects and recurrence, and affordability has so far remains elusive, providing avenues for innovation, especially with phytochemicals. This review furnishes extensive information on the earlier works carried out in this area and rationalizes the mode of action of them, citing limitations of the previous studies. The primary aim was to cover different classes of potent natural compounds that have impressive gastro-protective property against various ulcerogens (except Helicobacter pylori infection), and are available in large quantities from the natural sorces. A few examples of synthetic congeners have also been included to highlight the type of innovation that may be required for developing new drugs.