Herbal teas for gastritis: A narrative review and bibliometric analysis of Acorus calamus, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, and Piper betle

Anis Fadhlina; Nor Hafizah Zakaria; Hassan Ibrahim Sheikh; Fadzilah Adibah Abdul Majid; Muhammad Afnan Shakir Hairani

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Herbal teas for gastritis: A narrative review and bibliometric analysis of Acorus calamus, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, and Piper betle

Author: Anis Fadhlina ¹ ; Nor Hafizah Zakaria ² ; Hassan Ibrahim Sheikh ³ ; Fadzilah Adibah Abdul Majid ² ; Muhammad Afnan Shakir Hairani ²
Author Information

1. Department of Fundamental Dental and Medical Sciences, Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia;
2. Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine Biotechnology (ICAMB), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia;
3. Faculty of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
Publication Type:Review
Keywords: bibliometric; gastritis; gastroprotective; herbal tea; Helicobacter pylori; VOSviewer
From: Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2026;32(No. 1):1-18
CountryMalaysia
Language:English
Abstract: Introduction: Medicinal herbs Acorus calamus, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, and Piper betle have been traditionally used for treating stomach-related conditions such as irregular bowel movement, bloating, and gastric ulcers. The present study aimed to explore current status, research trends, and future directions of these herbs as functional herbal teas in prevention and treatment of gastritis. Methods: A total of 80 articles from Scopus database were retrieved and reviewed. Research trends were quantitatively analysed using VOSviewer software, focusing on the keywords, authors, countries, journals, and documents. A narrative review was integrated to provide comprehensive insights into the study. Results: Analysis revealed China and India as driving forces of this specific area of research, with the Journal of Ethnopharmacology emerging as a prominent source for publications in this field. “Curcumin”, “ginger”, and “Helicobacter pylori” were the main keywords of the study. Several gastroprotective mechanisms, including stimulation of mucosal proliferation, regulation of gastric acid production, reduction of inflammation in the gastric mucosa, protection of the gastric mucosa from oxidative damage, and inhibition of the growth of H. pylori, were associated with these herbs. Active compounds, such as α-asarone, curcumin, gingerol, and piperbetol, were found to be responsible for these effects. Conclusion: This study highlights various gastroprotective properties of A. calamus, C. longa, Z. officinale, and P. betle, providing researchers with a deeper understanding of the subject matter and opening new avenues for potential development into a functional herbal tea formulation known as “Lega Tea” (Relief Tea).
Full text:2026070215340223280MJN Vol 32(1) 1.mjn.2025.0054 Anis.pdf