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Research Update newsletter. Twice a month we email a brief abstract
of several studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics, including
stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer, and
their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Natural Options for Ulcer relief
There are many herbs, nutrients, and plant products that have been found
to play a role in protecting or helping to heal stomach and peptic ulcers. Few
human trials are available, but many have show good potential in animal or in
vitro studies. You may consider
ginger for nausea. Here are a few to look into. Before you start a
supplement program discuss with your health care provider to make sure you
have no serious bleeding issues with the ulcer and to make sure the
supplements won't interfere with any prescription medicines you may be
taking. I want to emphasize that research with these supplements is very
new and limited and there is no definite proof yet that they are effective
or should replace the meds you are being prescribed.
Probiotics such as
those found in yogurt.
Probiotics
are friendly bacteria such as Acidophilus,
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
Aloe vera herb may help
with gastric ulcer healing.
Prickly pear fruit,
also known as cactus pear, grows on nopal
or cactus leaf
Amla is used in Ayurvedic
medicine. You can find amla research below on its influence on ulcer and here
for an
Amla supplement product.
Whey protein is
available as a powder
Garcinia cambogia may have ulcer healing properties.
For more garcinia
information.
Gotu kola (Centella
asiatica)
Bacopa
monniera also works as mental stimulant. Use low dosage since high amounts
could cause too much stimulation.
Propolis extract
Reishi is a mushroom
Parsley herb
Yarrow herb
Causes of Ulcers - a bug?
Peptic ulcer disease has been considered to be a chronic
gastrointestinal illness with low mortality but with frequent flare ups. Up
until recently, peptic ulcer disease was thought to be caused by an imbalance
between acid and pepsin secretion, and defensive factors such as bicarbonate
secretion and gastric mucosal barrier. The isolation of Helicobacter pylori from
patients with chronic gastritis and duodenal and gastric ulcers has
revolutionized thinking about the causes of peptic ulcer disease. Current data
suggest that persistent infection with Helicobacter pylori may account for
peptic ulcer disease. Thus, because of the presence of this organism in ulcers,
conventional treatment of peptic ulcer disease has to be altered. At the present
time, there is no generally accepted, safe and effective therapy for H. pylori
infections. Several clinical trials, using antibiotics have claimed some
success. Of great clinical importance are the epidemiologic data which show a
link of
Helicobacter pylori infection to gastric cancer.
Aspirin and Peptic Ulcer
About ten percent of patients taking low-dose aspirin to lower
their risk of a heart attack develop peptic ulcers, which frequently cause
no symptoms. Aspirin can be of great benefit to those at high risk of
heart attack or stroke but the risks as well as the benefits need to be
carefully weighed before embarking on its long-term use in people who are
at only low cardiovascular risk. It may be best to take a baby aspirin
every other day as opposed to a full aspirin daily.
Medical Treatment of Ulcers
The traditional medical approach to treating ulcers is with antacids,
histamine-2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors.
Cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), and
ranitidine (Zantac) are examples of histamine-2 (H2) blockers.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
are one of the most commonly prescribed classes of medications in the
primary care setting and are often used in the treatment of acid-peptic
diseases. Since the introduction of omeprazole (Prilosec) in 1989, several
other PPIs have become available in the United States. Anti-ulcer drugs
may increase the risk of certain allergies to foods. PPIs could make it
more likely to catch an infection and the use of these ulcer drugs can
increase the risk of osteoporosis.
The combination of antibiotics and probiotics is more
beneficial in eradicating H. Pylori than antibiotics alone.
Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium, AstraZeneca)
Delayed-Release Capsules were approved in June 2006 by the FDA for use in
children ages 12 to 17 for the short-term treatment of gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD).
Ulcer
Drugs May not be Safe
Popular ulcer drugs such as proton-pump inhibitors that block
stomach acid production heighten the risk of an increasingly common
infectious form of diarrhea. Taking such drugs as AstraZeneca's Nexium and
Losec or their generic versions significantly increase the risk of
diarrhea blamed on the Clostridium difficile bacteria. Frequently
prescribed anti-heartburn drugs called H2 antagonists that include
GlaxoSmithKline's Zantac were found to double the risk of the bacterial
diarrhea. The drugs reduce gastric acid, allowing for bacteria to multiply
in the digestive system. Clostridium is the third-most common type of
infectious diarrhea in patients aged 75 and older. Exposure to Clostridium
difficile bacteria, which causes infection and inflammation of the
intestine, previously occurred mostly during hospital stays, but cases
have increasingly been contracted in community settings. While antibiotics
formerly blamed for outbreaks of the illness have declined in use, the
acid-blocking drugs have become steadily more popular to treat ulcers and
conditions such as gastric reflux disease.
PPI ulcer drugs, when used for prolonged periods, make bones more brittle.
Ulcer Symptom
The most common symptom of peptic ulcers is abdominal pain which can last
anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. Ulcer pain is often worse at night
and early morning. Pain from ulcers often comes several hours after a meal when
the stomach is empty. The pain is usually in the upper middle part of the
abdomen, above the belly button (navel) and below the breastbone. An ulcer pain
can feel like burning or gnawing, and it may go through to the back. The pain
may be relieved by food, antacids, or vomiting.
Drugs that can cause ulcers or
bleeding from the intestinal tract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), when combined, can interact to increase the
risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Ulcer Research Update
Pretreatment with Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-containing yogurt
can improve the efficacy of quadruple therapy in eradicating residual
Helicobacter pylori infection after failed triple therapy.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Apr;83(4):864-9.
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University
Hospital, Tainan Taiwan.
Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-containing yogurt (AB-yogurt) can suppress
Helicobacter pylori. Improvement of the eradication rate by quadruple therapy of
residual H. pylori after failed triple therapy is needed. We tested whether
prior treatment with AB-yogurt improved the efficacy of quadruple therapy in
eradicating residual H. pylori after failed triple therapy. One hundred
thirty-eight patients in whom triple therapy failed were enrolled for a culture
study of H. pylori to assess antimicrobial resistance. These patients were then
randomly assigned in equal numbers to either a yogurt-plus-quadruple therapy
group or a quadruple therapy-only group. The patients received 1 wk of quadruple
therapy with or without a 4-wk pretreatment with AB-yogurt (400 mL/d). In the
yogurt-plus-quadruple group, The yogurt-plus-quadruple therapy group had a
higher H. pylori eradication rate than did the quadruple therapy-only group
(intention-to-treat analysis: 85% compared with 71%,. CONCLUSION: A 4-wk
pretreatment with AB-yogurt can decrease H. pylori loads despite antimicrobial
resistance, thus improving the efficacy of quadruple therapy in eradicating
residual H. pylori.
Effects of ingesting Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-containing yogurt in
subjects with colonized Helicobacter pylori.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Sep;80(3):737-41.
Evidence suggests that ingesting lactic acid bacteria exerts a suppressive
effect on Helicobacter pylori infection in both animals and humans.
Supplementing with Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-containing yogurt
(AB-yogurt) was shown to improve the rates of eradication of H. pylori in
humans. We administered AB-yogurt to subjects with asymptomatic H.
pylori to test whether the yogurt could inhibit H. pylori growth. DESIGN: The in
vitro inhibition of H. pylori growth was determined by inoculating Lactobacillus
acidophilus or Bifidobacterium lactis on plates that were inoculated with H.
pylori. Regular intake of yogurt containing Bifidobacterium lactis
and Lactobacillus acidophilus effectively suppressed H. pylori infection in
humans.
Anti- ulcer drugs promote oral sensitization and hypersensitivity to
hazelnut allergens in BALB/c mice and humans.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 81, No. 1, 154-160, January
2005
Hazelnut allergy can be a consequence of sensitization to
cross-reactive pollen, especially from the Fagales family. However, severe
allergic reactions after ingestion of hazelnuts without associated pollen
allergy have been reported. In these cases, oral sensitization by hazelnut
ingestion is plausible. We have reported that anti- ulcer drugs promote oral
sensitization to digestion-labile food allergens. Because hazelnut proteins were
sensitive to gastric digestion in our in vitro assay, we aimed to analyze the
effect of anti- ulcer treatment on oral sensitization to hazelnut proteins.
Design: BALB/c mice were fed hazelnut extract with or without ant- iulcer drugs.
In parallel, gastroenterologic patients (n = 153) were screened during anti-
ulcer treatment for specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E to hazelnut and inhalative
allergens in vitro and in vivo. Results: Mice fed hazelnut extract in
combination with anti- ulcer drugs formed anaphylactogenic IgG1 toward hazelnut
and developed type I skin reactivity to hazelnut extract. In the human study
population, 5 of 153 patients developed hazelnut-specific IgE, 4 of 5
developed specific skin reactivity, 3 of 5 had a positive result to oral
provocation, and 2 of 5 manifested a food allergy to hazelnut after a 3-mo
course of anti- ulcer treatment. Immunoblot testing with recombinant allergens
showed that hazelnut, but not Fagales pollen, was the genuine elicitor in mice
and humans. Conclusion: Our experimental and epidemiologic data suggest that the
intake of anti- ulcer drugs may lead to the induction of immediate-type food
hypersensitivity toward hazelnut.
The gastric microbe, Helicobacter pylori, that's the cause of most stomach ulcers also takes it out on the heart. People with rapid beating of the upper chamber of the heart, atrial fibrillation, are nearly 20 times more likely to be infected with Helicobacter than are healthy "controls," according to a report in the medical journal Heart. While the exact mechanism is unknown, the theory is that it may relate to autoantibodies that develop in some H. pylori-infected patients. These antibodies, which normally attack an acid pump found on gastric cells, may instead attack a similar pump on cardiac cells, ultimately triggering atrial fibrillation. The new findings are based on a study of H. pylori tests in 59 patients with atrial fibrillation and 45 healthy controls. In the overall analysis, 97.2 percent of atrial fibrillation patients were positive for H. pylori compared with just 5.3 percent of controls.
Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori in vitro by various berry
extracts, with enhanced susceptibility to clarithromycin.
Mol Cell Biochem. 2004 Oct;265(1-2):19-26.
Department of Pediatrics, Creighton University Health Sciences Center, Omaha, NE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various berry
extracts, with and without clarithromycin on Helicobacter pylori. Resistance to
clarithromycin by H. pylori has been reported, leading to interest in
alternatives/adjuncts to therapy with clarithromycin. H. pylori American type
culture collection (ATCC) strain 49503 was grown, cell suspensions were made in
PBS and diluted 10-fold. One hundred microL of the suspension was then incubated
for 18 h with extracts of raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, elderberry,
blueberry, bilberry, and OptiBerry, a blend of the six berries, at 0.25-1%
concentrations. Serially diluted cell suspensions were exposed for 1 h to
clarithromycin at 15 microg/ml. Ten microl of bacterial samples from the 10(-7)
dilution tube were plated and incubated for 18 h and the number of colonies were
counted. Growth of H. pylori was confirmed by the CLO test. All berry extracts
significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited H. pylori, compared with controls, and also
increased susceptibility of H. pylori to clarithromycin, with OptiBerry
demonstrating maximal effects.
The stomach bug H. pylori is responsible for most ulcers, but it can
usually be eradicated with medication. However, many people who undergo this
treatment put on weight -- and now Japanese scientist think they know why.
Elimination of H. pylori infection leads to a significant increase in levels of
the powerful appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin in the tissues of the stomach
where it is produced, the researchers report in the American Journal of
Gastroenterology.
Widely used heartburn and ulcer drugs such as Nexium, Pepcid and Prilosec
can make people more susceptible to pneumonia, probably because they reduce
germ-killing stomach acid, Dutch researchers found in a study of more than
300,000 patients. The highest risks occurred with more powerful acid-fighting
drugs called proton pump inhibitors, which are sold in the United States under
such brand names as Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec. Over nearly three years,
users of these drugs faced almost double the risk of developing pneumonia
compared with former users. Users of another class of acid-fighting drugs that
includes cimetidine and famotidine — sold in the United States as Tagamet and
Pepcid — also faced an elevated risk.
Effects of ingesting Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-containing
yogurt in subjects with colonized Helicobacter pylori.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 80, No. 3, 737-741,
September 2004
Evidence suggests that ingesting lactic acid bacteria exerts a
suppressive effect on Helicobacter pylori -- a cause of stomach ulcer -- infection in both animals and
humans. Supplementing with Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-containing
yogurt (AB-yogurt) was shown to improve the rates of eradication of H. pylori
in humans. We administered AB-yogurt to subjects with
asymptomatic H. pylori to test whether the yogurt could inhibit H.
pylori growth. Design: In an intervention study, 59 adult volunteers
infected with H. pylori were given AB-yogurt (107 colony-forming units of
both La5 and Bb12/mL) twice daily after a meal for 6 wk. Eleven subjects
positive for H. pylori infection were treated with milk placebo as
control subjects. H. pylori bacterial loads were determined with use of
the 13C-urea breath test, which was performed before and 4 and 8 wk after the
start of AB-yogurt supplementation. Results: Bb12 exerted an in vitro
inhibitory effect against H. pylori, whereas La5 did not show an effect.
Administration of AB-yogurt decreased the urease activity of H. pylori
after 6 wk of therapy. Conclusion: Regular intake of
yogurt containing Bb12 and La5 effectively suppressed H. pylori infection
in humans.
The healing effects of Centella extract - gotu kola - and
asiaticoside on acetic acid induced gastric ulcers in rats.
Life Sci. 2004 Mar 19;74(18):2237-49.
In this study, the healing effects of gotu kola water extract and
asiaticoside, an active constituent of gotu kola, on acetic acid induced
gastric ulcers (kissing ulcers) in rats were examined. Gotu kola was prepared
from Centella asiatica dry plant and the concentration of asiaticoside in gotu kola was
quantitatively determined with the use of high performance liquid chromatography
analysis. Different concentrations of gotu kola and asiaticoside were orally administered
to rats with kissing ulcers. They were found to reduce the size of the ulcers at
day 3 and 7 in a dose-dependent manner, with a concomitant attenuation of myeloperoxidase activity at the ulcer tissues. Epithelial cell proliferation and
angiogenesis were on the other hand promoted. The expression of basic fibroblast
growth factor, an important angiogenic factor, was also upregulated in the ulcer
tissues in rats treated with gotu kola or asiaticoside. These results further suggest the
potential use of gotu kola and its active ingredient as anti-gastric ulcers
drugs.
Effect of Bacopa monniera and Azadirachta indica on gastric ulceration
and healing in experimental NIDDM rats.
Indian J Exp Biol. 2004 Apr;42(4):389-97.
Gastric ulcers were induced in normal/NIDDM rats by various physical (2 hr
cold restraint stress and 4 hr pylorus ligation) and chemical agents (ethanol, 1
ml/200 g, oral, 1 hr before; aspirin, 200 mg/kg, oral, 4 hr) and duodenal ulcers
were induced by cysteamine (40 mg/200 g). Ulcer healing activity was studied in
gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid (50%) and HCI (0.6 M). The result
indicated that in both, normal and NIDDM rats, Bacopa monniera extract (20-100
mg/kg) did not show any significant effect on blood glucose level, while A.
indica (AIE, 250-1000 mg/kg) significantly decreased it. However, both bacopa
monniera (50 mg/kg) and AIE (500 mg/kg) showed significant anti-ulcer and
ulcer-healing activities in normal and NIDDM rats. Further, the present results
also indicated that the ulcer protective effects of bacopa monniera was more
pronounced in non-diabetic, while that of AIE was more in NIDDM rats. The
anti-ulcer and ulcer-healing activities of bacopa monniera and AIE may be due to
their effects on various mucosal offensive and defensive factors, and correction
of blood sugar level by AIE may help to have more ulcer protective effect in
NIDDM rats.
Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic
activities of nettle (Urtica dioica L.).
Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Feb;90(2-3):205-15.
In this study, water extract of
stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) was
studied for antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiulcer and analgesic properties. The
antioxidant properties of stinging nettle were evaluated using different
antioxidant tests, including reducing power, free radical scavenging, superoxide
anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and metal chelating
activities. Stinging nettle had powerful antioxidant activity. The 50, 100 and
250 microg amounts of stinging nettle showed 39, 66 and 98% inhibition on
peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion, respectively, while 60 microg/ml of
alpha-tocopherol, exhibited only 30% inhibition. Moreover, stinging nettle had
effective reducing power, free radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical
scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and metal chelating activities at the
same concentrations. In addition, total phenolic compounds in the stinging
nettle were determined as pyrocatechol equivalent. Stinging nettle also showed
antimicrobial activity against nine microorganisms, antiulcer activity against
ethanol-induced ulcerogenesis and analgesic effect on acetic acid-induced
stretching.
In vitro evaluation of Bacopa monniera on anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and
accumulation of prostaglandins.
Phytomedicine. 2003;10(6-7):523-7.
Bacopa monniera is an Indian tratidional medicine widely used to improve
intellectual functions. Earlier, we had reported the prophylactic and curative
effects of standardized extract of Bacopa monniera in various gastric ulcer
models. The effect was due to augmentation of the defensive mucosal factors like
increase in mucin secretion, life span of mucosal cells and gastric antioxidant
effect rather than on the offensive acid-pepsin secretion. The present study
includes evaluation of standardized Bacopa monniera extract (bacoside A
content--35.5 +/- 0.9) on other contributing factors towards ulcerogenesis.
Bacopa monniera in the dose of 1000 microg/ml showed anti-Helicobacter pylori
activity in vitrol and in the dose of 10 microg/ml increased in vitro of
prostanoids (PGE and PGI2) in human colonic mucosal incubates. It may be
concluded that these factors may contribute to antiulcerogenic activity of
Bacopa monniera.
The healing effects of Centella extract and asiaticoside on
acetic acid induced gastric ulcers in rats.
Life Sci. 2004 Mar 19;74(18):2237-49.
In this study, the healing effects of Centella asiatica water extract (CE)
and asiaticoside (AC), an active constituent of CE, on acetic acid induced
gastric ulcers (kissing ulcers) in rats were examined. CE was prepared from
Centella asiatica dry plant and the concentration of AC in CE was quantitatively
determined with the use of high performance liquid chromatography analysis.
Different concentrations of CE and AC were orally administered to rats with
kissing ulcers. They were found to reduce the size of the ulcers at day 3 and 7
in a dose-dependent manner, with a concomitant attenuation of myeloperoxidase
activity at the ulcer tissues. Epithelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis
were on the other hand promoted. The expression of basic fibroblast growth
factor, an important angiogenic factor, was also upregulated in the ulcer
tissues in rats treated with CE or AC. These results further suggest the
potential use of Centella asiatica and its active ingredient as anti-gastric
ulcers drugs.
Prevention of experimentally-induced gastric ulcers in rats by an ethanolic
extract of "Parsley" Petroselinum crispum.
Am J Chin Med. 2003;31(5):699-711.
An ethanolic extract of Parsley, Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nym.ex A.W.
Hill (Umbelliferae), was tested for its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and
to protect gastric mucosa against the injuries caused by pyloric ligation,
hypothermic restraint stress, indomethacin and cytodestructive agents (80%
ethanol, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCl) in rats. The extract in doses of 1 and 2 g/kg
body weight had a significant antiulcerogenic activity on the models used.
Besides, ethanol-induced depleted gastric wall mucus and non-protein sulfhydryl
contents were replenished by pretreatment with Parsley extract. Acute toxicity
tests showed a large margin of safety for the extract. The phytochemical
screening of Parsley leaves revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids,
sterols and/or triterpenes.
Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart.) offers protection against gastric lesions
induced by ethanol and indomethacin in rats.
Phytother Res. 2003 Dec;17(10):1199-202.
The effects of guarana (Paullinia cupana) extract were analyzed in rats on
acute gastric lesions induced by ethanol and indomethacin and were compared to
those produced by caffeine, a methylxanthine. Guarana (50 and 100 mg/kg p.o.)
pretreated animals showed a significant reduction in the severity of gastric
lesions induced by absolute ethanol in a manner similar to caffeine (20 and 30
mg/kg p.o.). Against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration, guarana at a
higher dose offered significant protection but caffeine was ineffective at the
doses tested. In 4 h pylorus-ligated rats, both guarana and caffeine caused
significant diminution in the gastric secretory volume as well as the total
acidity. Gastrointestinal transit in mice was not significantly affected by
either of these agents. These findings indicate that guarana has a
gastroprotective property that needs further elucidation as regards to its
mechanism.
Suppression of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis by green tea extract in
Mongolian gerbils.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Oct 24;310(3):715-9.
Since urease of Helicobacter pylori is essential for its colonization, we
focused attention on foodstuffs which inhibit the activity of this enzyme. Among
plant-derived 77 foodstuff samples tested, some tea and rosemary extracts were
found to clearly inhibit H. pylori urease in vitro. In particular, green tea
extract (GTE) showed the strongest inhibition of H. pylori urease, with an
IC(50) value of 13 microg/ml. Active principles were identified to be catechins,
the hydroxyl group of 5(')-position appearing important for urease inhibition.
Furthermore, when H. pylori-inoculated Mongolian gerbils were given GTE in
drinking water at the concentrations of 500, 1000, and 2000 ppm for 6 weeks,
gastritis and the prevalence of H. pylori-infected animals were suppressed in a
dose-dependent manner. Since the acquisition by H. pylori of resistance to
antibiotics has become a serious problem, tea and tea catechins may be very safe
resources to control H. pylori-associated gastroduodenal diseases.
Efficacy of a whey protein concentrate on the inhibition of stomach
ulcerative lesions caused by ethanol ingestion.
J Med Food. 2002 Winter;5(4):221-8.
The purpose of this research was to test the ability of a whey protein
concentrate (WPC) to inhibit gastric mucosal ulcerative lesions caused by oral
administration to rats of absolute ethanol. Acute administration (single doses)
of WPC resulted in 41% inhibition of the ulcerative lesion index (ULI), and 73%
inhibition was obtained with repetitive doses. In a 10-days subchronic treatment
study, the inhibition was 64%, all relative to a saline treatment (negative
control). Alkylation of sulfhydryl compounds by subcutaneous injection of N-ethylmaleimide
essentially eliminated the WPC protection. Treating the rats with an
intraperitoneal injection of butathionine sulfoximine, which inhibits
glutathione synthesis, reduced WPC protection to 35% and 52% for single and
double doses, respectively. Taken as a whole, the results indicate that WPC does
protect gastric mucosa from ethanol damage and that the protection depends on
sulfhydryl compounds present in the WPC, including its capacity to stimulate
glutathione synthesis.
Effects of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) seed and pulp oils on
experimental models of gastric ulcer in rats.
Fitoterapia. 2002 Dec;73(7-8):644-50.
Oils from sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) seeds and berries have
traditionally been used in the treatment of disorders of skin and mucosa in
China. Compared with the negative control, oral administration of
CO(2)-extracted seed and pulp oils, 7.0 ml x kg(-1) x day(-1) significantly
reduced ulcer formation in water-immersion (P < 0.05) and reserpine-induced (P <
0.01) models in rats. In addition, administration of the two oils, 3.5 ml x
kg(-1) x day(-1), significantly reduced the index of pylorus ligation-induced
gastric ulcer (P < 0.05) and sped up the healing process of acetic acid-induced
gastric ulcer (P < 0.01). The results suggested that the CO(2)-extracted sea
buckthorn seed and pulp oils have both preventive and curative effects against
experimental gastric ulcers in rats.
Mechanism of the antiulcerogenic effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides on
indomethacin-induced lesions in the rat.
Life Sci. 2002 Dec 27;72(6):731-45.
Many cytokines, in particular tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha have been
known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal lesions
caused by various factors such as drugs and Helicobacter pylori infection. Our
previous studies have shown that the polysaccharide fractions isolated from the
fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum (GLPS) prevented indomethacin- and acetic
acid-induced gastric mucosal lesions in the rat. However, the mechanisms remain
unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether GLPS had a direct mucosal
healing effect in the indomethacin-treated rat, and to explore the possible
mechanisms by determining the gastric mucosal mRNA and protein levels of TNF-alpha
and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. These findings indicated that GLPS
produced a mucosal healing effect in the rat model, perhaps due partly to the
suppression of TNF-alpha.
Cytoprotection by propolis ethanol extract of acute absolute ethanol-induced
gastric mucosal lesions.
Am J Chin Med. 2002;30(2-3):245-54.
Acute p.o. administration of absolute ethanol (1.0 ml/kg) to fasted rats
produced extensive necrosis of gastric mucosa. Pretreatment with p.o.
administration of propolis ethanol extract could effectively and
dose-dependently prevent such necrosis. This protective effect is called "cytoprotection.
"The maximal cytoprotective effect against absolute ethanol (AE)-induced gastric
mucosal lesion was observed 1 hour after propolis extract administration. A
gross examination of the gastric mucosa showed a marked improvement in groups
receiving PEE. In order to further investigate the gastric protective mechanism
of propolis, lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels in vivo and in vitro were
estimated. Propolis exhibited dose-dependent superoxide scavenging activity and
antioxidant effects on AE-induced LPO in rat gastric mucosal homogenates. It was
concluded that the gastric protective mechanism of propolis ethanol extract was
due, at least in part, to its ability to inhibit LPO, and hence indirectly
protect the gastric mucosa from oxidative stress.
A substance secreted by mucous cells in the lining of the stomach seems to act as a natural antibiotic, protecting against deep infection by Helicobacter pylori -- the bacterium that causes most cases of stomach ulcers. Researchers reporting in the journal Science say H. pylori usually only infects the surface layer of the stomach, rarely making it into the deeper layers of the stomach wall. Dr. Minoru Fukuda of the Burnham Institute in La Jolla, California, told Reuters Health that he and his colleagues observed a "very nice correlation" between decreasing amounts of H. pylori and increasing concentrations of a particular type of mucin, a substance produced by mucous glands, at deeper layers of the stomach lining. This substance caused H. pylori to lose its shape, became immobile, and eventually die in lab experiments. On the other hand, another type of mucin produced at the surface of the stomach actively supported the growth of the organism. His team believes the bug-killing mucin could help in the design of safer drugs that could treat stomach ulcers and prevent stomach cancer associated with H. pylori. Fukuda predicted that cows can be bred to produce inhibitory mucins in their milk, an inexpensive way to help eradicate H. pylori infection. SOURCE: Science, August 13, 2004.
Chinese Herbs for Ulcer
Investigations on the protective action of Condonopsis pilosula (Dangshen)
extract on experimentally-induced gastric ulcer in rats.
Gen Pharmacol. 1997 Mar;28(3):469-73.
The action of Codonopsis pilosula extract in 5 animal models of gastric ulcer
was investigated. It was found that codonopsis extract had higher efficacy on
gastric ulcer induced by stress, acetic acid and sodium hydroxide and little
significant effect on ulcers induced by pyloroligature and indomethacin. The
codonopsis extract was also capable of reducing gastric acid pepsin secretion.
It is possible that inhibition of gastrointestinal movement and propulsion is
one of the mechanisms underlying the antiulcer action of codonopsis extract.
In vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori action of 30 Chinese herbal medicines
used to treat ulcer diseases.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Apr 26;98(3):329-33.
Infection by Helicobacter pylori has been ascertained to be an important
etiologic impetus leading usually to chronic active gastritis and gastric
ulcer with growing incidences worldwide. Utilizing as the test pathogen a
standard and five clinic strains of Helicobacter pylori, the antibacterial
action was assessed in vitro with ethanol extracts of 30 Chinese herbal
medicines which have been frequently prescribed since ancient times for
treating gastritis-like disorders. Among the 30 tested materials, the
ethanol extracts of Abrus cantoniensis (Fabaceae), Saussurea lappa (Asteraceae)
and Eugenia caryophyllata (Myrtaceae) were strongly inhibitory to all test
strains (MICs: approximately 40mug/ml), and Hippophae rhamnoides (Elaeagnaceae),
Fritillaria thunbergii (Liliaceae), Magnolia officinalis and
Schisandra chinensis
(Magnoliaceae), Corydalis yanhusuo (Papaveraceae), Citrus reticulata (Rutaceae),
Bupleurum chinense
and Ligusticum chuanxiong (Apiaceae) substantially active with MICs close
to 60.0mug/ml. As to antibacterial actions of the aqueous extracts of the
same drugs, those derived from Cassia obtusifolia (Fabaceae), Fritillaria
thunbergii and Eugenia caryophyllata were remarkably inhibitory against
all the six Helicobacter pylori strains (MICs: approximately 60mug/ml).
The work compared almost quantitatively the magnitude of the
anti-Helicobacter pylori actions of the 30 most prescribed
gastritis-treating Chinese herbal drugs, and located as well some source
plants where potent anti-Helicobacter pylori phytochemicals could be
characterized.
Gastroprotective effects of Amla Emblica officinalis on in vivo test models
in rats.
Phytomedicine. 2002 Sep;9(6):515-22.
An ethanol extract of Amla was examined for its antisecretory and antiulcer activities employing different experimental models
in rats, including pylorus ligation Shay rats, indomethacin, hypothermic
restraint stress-induced gastric ulcer and necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2
M NaOH and 25% NaCl). Oral administration of Amla extract at doses 250 mg/kg and
500 mg/kg significantly inhibited the development of gastric lesions in
all test models used. The results indicate that Amla extract possesses
antisecretory, anti ulcer, and cytoprotective properties.
Additional anti ulcer herbs
and supplements
Codonopsis
herb
Nucleotide
Ulcer relief with Probiotics in
Yogurt
Up until recently, peptic ulcer disease was thought to be caused by an
imbalance between acid and pepsin secretion, as well as defensive factors such
as bicarbonate secretion and gastric mucosal barrier. The isolation of
Helicobacter pylori from patients with chronic gastritis and duodenal and
gastric ulcers has revolutionized thinking about the causes of ulcers. Current
data suggest that persistent infection with Helicobacter pylori may account for
peptic ulcer disease. In this study, 59 adult volunteers infected with H. pylori
were given Lactobacillus- and Bifidobacterium-containing yogurt (AB-yogurt)
twice daily after a meal for 6 weeks. Eleven subjects positive for H. pylori
infection were treated with milk placebo as control subjects. H. pylori
bacterial loads were determined with use of a breath test, which was performed
before and 4 and 8 weeks after the start of AB-yogurt supplementation. Results:
Yogurt containing probiotics suppressed H. pylori infection.
When you purchase yogurt, makes sure
the label says that it contains these organisms. Or, you may directly supplement
with probiotics.
Acid Reflux
People who smoke or use high amounts of table salt on their food appear to
be at increased risk for gastroesophageal reflux, a disease in which stomach
juices flow back into the esophagus, European researchers report. In contrast,
tea and alcohol, which have been identified as culprits in past studies, did not
increase the risk.
Ulcer Questions
Q. I have read and appreciated your informative book about Pregnenolone! Is
there any known link between the sublingual tablets (5 mg. daily) and increased
stomach acid or ulcers?
A. I have not seen such studies regarding the relationship of
pregnenolone and ulcer formation. It is known that cortisol use can increase
ulcer formation, but I don't know if pregnenolone has any influence. In my
opinion, it is best not to use pregnenolone often. See
pregnenolone for
cautions regarding the use of this hormone.
Q. is it true that the best herb for hyper acidity is
filipendula ulmaria? What do u think is the best herb for hyperacidity?
A. I have not studied the benefits of filipendula ulmaria, known as
the meadowsweet herb. You may consider some of the herbs or supplements listed
above for ulcer prevention or treatment.