The first part of the study was concerned with the antiulcer activity of some medicinal plants, namely; turmeric, marshmallow, garlic, slippery elm, chamomile and calendula. This effect was experienced on
ethanol induced gastric lesion in 64 rats which were divided into several groups; the rats in each group were received 0.5mg/kg of certain herb (as aqueous extract) 30 minutes prior to the oral administration of 1.5 ml of ethanol (50%). These groups were compared to a control group that was treated with 0.04 mg/kg of lansoprazole before the administration of alcohol. With the aid of dissecting microscope, the total lesions number and length were estimated, and the lesion index and hence, the preventive index, were calculated, consequently the antiulcer activity of those medicinal plants was determined. Out of the 6 herbs used in the study, only turmeric & marshmallow were proved to have the ability to heal gastric lesion .Where as, the other four plants comprised little or no role in the treatment of gastric lesion. The collected data were analyzed statistically using ANOVA test at P ≤ 0.05. The second part of the study was carried out on 225 of recognized peptic ulcer patients to attest the efficacy of three medicinal plants (which were used in the first part of the study) in the eradication of H. pylori, the major causative factor of peptic ulcer disease (PUD).
• The predisposing factors of PUD were considered and determined by presenting a questionnaire form to each patient. • The 225 patients were alienated into four groups; a control group that comprised 66 patients who were treated with the conventional medical management of H. pylori i.e. omeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin, and three other groups, each group was concerned with one herb; turmeric group (63 patients), marshmallow group (48 patients) and garlic group (48 patients). The patients of each group were received their specific medicinal plant plus the same treatment used in the control group. The course of treatment
in each group was of two weeks (repeated once). The rate of recurrence of PUD was decreased in patients that received the combined therapy that involves the conventional treatment plus the herbal supplement. This was monitored by regular follow up of the patients in the four groups by using a questionnaire form, endoscopic examination (OGD), & determination of serum levels of anti H.pylori antibodies & gastrin using ELISA test. The follow up was done at five different periods of time (at zero time, at 2 weeks, at 3 months, at 6 months, & at 9 months of treatment) to demonstrate the efficacy of the remedy & the recurrence of the disease. The collected data were analyzed statistically using Wilcoxon rank test at P≤ 0.01. • During the five periods of follow up, serum levels of three liver enzymes (ALP, ALT, and AST) were monitored by spectrophotometer to confirm the safety of using those medicinal plants in human over along period of time. The collected data were analyzed statistically by using paired sample t- test at P ≤ 0.01.