Gastric ulcer is the damage caused to mucosal layer of the stomach under the action of various factors like high levels of
acid and
pepsin, invasion by Helicobacter pylori, etc. Although most cases have been controlled and the rate of
ulcer occurrence has reduced over the last few decades,
gastric ulcer still holds a prime concern today. A range of palliative medicines comprising
proton pump inhibitors, H2 receptor antagonists,
COX-2 inhibitors (
coxibs) is widely in use and patients have also been administered with
acid suppression
therapies. But these remedies aggravate the condition of patients causing severe side effects, or rather impart temporary relief. Therefore, it is highly imperative to develop safe and effective
therapies for the treatment of
gastric ulcer. Nature provides us various fruits and vegetables that can combat
gastric ulcer through multiple mechanisms; predominantly via
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antisecretory, antimicrobial,
anticholinergic and cytoprotective activity, inhibition of small intestinal propulsion etc. Various
phytochemicals from fruits and vegetables such as phenolics,
flavonoids,
tannins and
saponins play a vital role in the prevention and cure of
gastric ulcer. This review is a compendium of all fruits and vegetables known for their profound antiulcer effect and their underlying mechanisms of action.