LAUSR

Purpose: To investigate the ameliorative effect of bupleurum liver-coursing powder on symptoms of acute gastric ulcer (AGU), and on the expressions of gastric mucosal epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF receptor (EGFR). Methods: A total of 120 patients were recruited over a 1-year period for this study, and assigned to observation and control groups (60 patients each). The observation group consisted of 31 males and 29 females aged between 23 and 55 years (mean age, 38.77 ± 4.36 years; mean disease history, 7.94 ± 2.49 days). Control group consisted of 33 males and 27 females aged between 26 and 51 years (mean age, 37.68 ± 4.67 years; mean disease history, 8.06 ± 2.31 days). Following 14 days of treatment, clinical symptoms such as gastric swelling and pain, chest distress, belching, and sour regurgitation were recorded and analyzed. Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6 and TNF-α were assayed using ELISA, while the expressions of EGF and EGFR were determined using immuno-histochemical staining. Results: Total effectiveness (recovery, excellent, effective and ineffective) in observation patients (91.70 %) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in control group (65.0 %). Prior to treatment, both groups were comparable with respect to the major symptoms of AGU, and serum levels of CRP, TNF-α and IL-6. However, there were significant reductions in symptoms and serum levels of CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 in bupleurum liver-coursing powder-treated patients, post-treatment (p < 0.05). Similarly, after treatment, there were significant increases in the expressions of EGF and EGFR in the observation patients, relative to control patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Bupleurum liver-coursing powder is effective in ameliorating symptoms of AGU, and it enhances the expressions of EGF and EGFR. Keywords: Acute gastric ulcer, Bupleurum liver-coursing powder, Inflammation-related factors, Epithelial growth factor, Receptor