Sula, Parinamasula and Amlapitta are clinical entities recognized by ayurveda, akin to peptic ulcer and
functional dyspepsia. Many indigenous drugs have been advocated in ayurveda for treatment of dyspepsia.
Our laboratory has been engaged in screening of various indigenous herbal and metallic drugs for their
potential use in peptic ulcer diseases, taking lead from Ayurveda and have reported anti-ulcer and ulcerhealing
properties of Tectona grandis (lapachol), Rhamnus procumbens (kaempferol), Rhamnus triquerta
(emodin), Withania somnifera (acylsteryl glycoside), Shilajit (fulvic acid and carboxymethoxybiphenyl),
Datura fastuosa (withafastuosin E), Fluggea microcarpa and Aegle marmelos (pyrano- and iso- coumarins)
etc., along with their mechanism of action. The present article includes the detailed exploration of ulcer
protective and healing effects of unripe plantain banana, tambrabhasma and Asparagus racemosus on
various models of experimental gastroduodenal ulceration and patients with peptic ulcer. Their effects on
mucin secretion, mucosal cell shedding, cell proliferation, anti-oxidant activity, glycoproteins, and PG
synthesis have been reported. Clinical trials of these drugs for evaluating their potential ulcer healing
effects in peptic ulcer patients have been done. Their potential ulcer protective effects both, experimental
and clinical seemed to be due to their predominant effects on various mucosal defensive factors rather
than on the offensive acid-pepsin secretion. Thus, the above herbal / herbo-mineral drugs do have
potential usefulness for treatment of peptic ulcer diseases.