Gastric ulcer is the medical condition characterized by the open sores that develop on the inside lining of the stomach. If the open sores are developed in the upper part of the small intestine, it is a duodenal ulcer.

The most common cause of the gastric ulcer, represented over 30% of all cases is associated with the infection of H. pylori.

Certain medical conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and long-term use of some medication such as alendronate (Fosamax) and risedronate (Actonel) are also prevalent factors that elevate the disease onset.

The imbalance between stomach acid and upper GI tract mucosa is the main cause of the condition onset associated with the use of certain medication, including aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic gastritis.

Most common symptoms of a gastric ulcer are gastrointestinal discomforts, blood in your stool, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath with physical activity, and persistent fatigue.

Some patients with severe gastric ulcers may also experience symptoms of vomiting blood, feeling faint or losing consciousness. However, 75% of patients with gastric ulcers do not feel any symptoms.

Long-term untreated gastric ulcer can result in gastric adenocarcinoma development.

Although there are some disagreements that a poor diet can cause gastric ulcers, some researchers suggested that a diet rich, fatty or spicy foods such as the Western diet and unhealthy lifestyle such as high caffeine. And excessive alcohol consumption also elevates the onset of the disease.

Therefore by following a healthy diet with more fruits and vegetables, whole grain and less red meat and processed foods accompanied by a healthy choice of lifestyle and moderate exercise, one can lower the risk gastric ulcer substantially.

On finding a natural ingredient for the prevention and treatment of digestive diseases, scientists examined the crude extract from Angelica sinensis (ASCE) consisting of polysaccharides on normal gastric epithelial cells.

Angelica or Dang Qui is an herb of Genus Angelica from the family Apiaceae, indigenous to China.

The herb has been used as a Queen herb in traditional Chinese medicine antispasmodic and vasodilatory agent, and to balance the hormones in women for a normal menstrual cycle and menstruation and strengthen heart, spleen, kidneys, and liver for both men and women, etc. In other words, it is used to treat gynecological ailments, fatigue, mild anemia, and high blood pressure. It has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, etc.

According to the tested assays,

* ASCE showed a direct wound healing effect on gastric mucosa

* However, there is no report in which ASCE exerted gastric ulcer healing in animal models.

* ASCE promoted ulcer healing by reducing the ulcer area, accompanied with a significant increase in mucus synthesis when compared with the control,

* Treatment of ASCE also inhibited angiogenesis, without affecting the cell proliferation associated with ODC and EGFR protein expression.

Based on the results, researchers suggest, "This fraction demonstrated insignificant antimicrobial activity and can be used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries".

Taken altogether, Dandelion may be considered an antioxidant remedy for speeding up gastric ulcer healing, pending to the confirmation of the larger sample size and multicentre human study.