A Review on Current and Evolving Techniques in Antiulcer Drug Screening

Peptic ulcer, defined as a lesion in the gastric or duodenal mucosa caused by an imbalance between aggressive and protective factors, remains a global health concern. The continued prevalence of peptic ulcer disease highlights the urgent need for improved therapeutic strategies and reliable preclinical screening models. This article reviews innovative methodologies currently employed in the evaluation of antiulcer drug candidates. Among these, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model offers significant advantages due to its genetic similarity to humans, ease of handling, and potential for high-throughput screening. Various chemically induced ulcer models, including those utilizing methylene blue, serotonin and cystamine, allow for the investigation of distinct pathological mechanisms such as oxidative damage, mucosal inflammation, and neurochemical imbalance. The ischemia-reperfusion injury model serves as a valuable tool for assessing the gastroprotective efficacy of compounds under conditions mimicking vascular impairment. Additionally, artificial gastric juice models provide a controlled in vitro environment for evaluating drug stability and mucosal interaction under simulated gastric conditions. All of these innovative methods work together to improve the accuracy and applicability of antiulcer medication screening and aid in the creation of more potent medicinal substances.