The role of hydrogen sulfide in gastric mucosal damage

Gastrointestinal disease is a major global threat to public health. In the past few decades, numerous studies have focuses on the application of small molecule gases in the disease treatment. Increasing evidence has shown that hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, and can regulate gastric mucosal blood flow in the gastric mucosa. After gastric mucosa damage, the level of H(2)S in the stomach decreases. Administration of H(2)S can protect and repair the damaged gastric mucosa. Therefore, H(2)S is a new target for the repair and treatment of gastric mucosa damage. In this review, we introduce the roles of H(2)S in the treatment of gastric mucosa damage and provide the potential strategies for further clinical treatment.