• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.282-289
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• 2019

Gastritis is an inflammatory disease involving the stomach and is caused by several factors, including stress, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, liquor, and Helicobacter pylori. In Korea, Leonurus japonicus Houttuyn (LJW) has been used as traditional medicine for vaginal bleeding, hematuria, and bruise. Previous studies have reported that LJW exhibited hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and anti-hyperlipidemic effect. However, the effect of the water extract of LJW on gastritis was not elucidated. Thus, we evaluated the anti-gastric effect and genotoxicity of LJW. LJW effectively prevented the degeneration of surface mucous cells and glandular epithelial cells and vascular congestion induced by HCl/EtOH. Micronucleus assay indicated that the rate of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes/polychromatic erythrocytes was not significantly different compared that of the control. Further experiments are required to determine the role of LJW in the gastric injury process such as cyclooxygenase signaling pathway and the secretion of mucus in the stomach.