title: Potential role of probiotics in the management of gastric ulcer.
abstract: Gastric ulcer is one of the most common chronic gastrointestinal diseases characterized by a significant defect in the mucosal barrier.Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)infection and the frequent long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are major factors involved in gastric ulcer development. Acid inhibitors and antibiotics are commonly used to treat gastric ulcer. However, in the last few decades, the accumulating evidence for resistance to antibiotics and the side effects of antibiotics and acid inhibitors have drawn attention to the possible use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcer. Probiotics are live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts confer health benefits on the host. Currently, the available experimental and clinical studies indicate that probiotics are promising for future applications in the management of gastric ulcers. This review aims to provide an overview of the general health benefits of probiotics on various systemic and gastrointestinal disorders with a special focus on gastric ulcer and the involved cellular and molecular mechanisms: i) Protection of gastric mucosal barrier; ii) upregulation of prostaglandins, mucus, growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines; iii) increased cell proliferation to apoptosis ratio; and iv) induction of angiogenesis. Finally, some of the available data on the possible use of probiotics inH. pylorieradication are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Ghalia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khoder
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Asma A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Menhali
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Yassir
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Sherif M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Karam
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; gastric mucosa; gastric mucosal barrier; gastric ulcer; gastric ulcer healing; gastric ulcer prevention; probiotics