# A Comprehensive Analysis of Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plant Extracts to Treat Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how medicinal plant extracts can help treat gastric ulcers caused by alcohol, offering safer and effective natural alternatives.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of medicinal plants with anti-ulcer properties, focusing on their mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

## Key findings

- Medicinal plant extracts show gastroprotective effects through antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
- Herbal remedies enhance mucosal defense and inhibit gastric acid secretion in experimental ulcer models.
- Plant-based therapies offer promising alternative treatment strategies for peptic ulcer management.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Gastric ulcer is a prevalent global gastrointestinal disorder influenced by multiple factors, including excessive alcohol consumption, poor dietary habits, psychological stress, smoking, and the chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Among these, alcohol plays a critical role in gastric mucosal injury by enhancing gastric acid secretion, triggering inflammatory responses, inducing oxidative stress, and promoting epithelial cell apoptosis while simultaneously depleting key protective mediators such as nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2. Growing interest has focused on medicinal plants as promising sources of novel therapeutic agents for the management of peptic ulcer disease. Methods: This review summarizes commonly used medicinal plants documented in both Ayurvedic and modern medical systems that exhibit ulcer-healing potential. Experimental and preclinical studies indicate that various herbal drugs and plant extracts derived from different plant parts exert significant anti-ulcer effects through multiple mechanisms, including antioxidant activity, modulation of inflammatory pathways, enhancement of mucosal defense, and inhibition of gastric acid secretion. Results: The review further highlights the gastroprotective effects of these herbal remedies as demonstrated in established experimental ulcer models. Conclusions: Exploring plant-based therapies for gastric ulcers offers valuable insights into alternative and complementary treatment strategies. Continued research aimed at identifying bioactive compounds, elucidating their molecular mechanisms, and developing improved formulations may contribute to safer, more effective, and patient-friendly therapeutic options for peptic ulcer management.