Decalepis hamiltonii A research team at the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysore, India recently demonstrated the effectiveness of a novel multi-step ulcer preventive activity.

This treatment uses a novel phenol-bound pectic polysaccharide from the Decalepis hamiltonii plant species to treat multiple complications encountered when one suffers from ulcers. This plant is found in abundance in India.

The team’s remedy provides gastroprotection against swim/alcohol stress induced ulcers in experimental animal models and down-regulation of activated H+, K+ATPase in eth stomach tissue that leads to acidity.

The olysaccharide also normalizes oxidative stress and oxidative stress-induced damage to the stomach tissue and antioxidant enzymes which necessitate the management of oxidative stress generated during gastric ulceration, along with recovery of damaged mucosal epithelium which can safeguard the stomach tissue by preventing the entry of an ulcerogenic such as Helicobacter pylori.

The identified polysaccharide also exhibited potent antioxidant activity including free radical scavenging, DNA protection and inhibition of growth of Helicobacter pylori in vitro confirming the ability of the polysaccharide in inhibiting various steps of gastric ulceration directly.

The researchers have concluded that a bioactive polysaccharide from the swallow root, with defined sugar composition and phenolic antioxidant exhibited multipotent free radical scavenging antioxidant, anti-H.pylori, inhibition of H+, K+ATPase and gastric mucosal protective activities.

As it is swallow root has been shown to be non-toxic as opposed to other known anti-ulcer drugs.