In the human body mucosal tissues (also termed mucosa) are membranes that line body cavities such mouth, nose, eyelids and sexual organs, and canals such as alimentary canals (e.g., the gastrointestinal (GI) tract) and the respiratory tract. Since mucosa is exposed to the external air, it secrets mucus to moisten and protect itself from adversary effects of environmental elements.

Mucosa is primarily comprised of epithelial cells that are attached to the basement membrane. Unlike the mucosal tissue of the inner surface of the eyelids, the epithelial cells which line the inside of the stomach are exposed to much harsher conditions, e.g., acid (i.e., hydrochloric acid), sometimes alcohol, enzymes (e.g., pepsin) for digesting food and waste generated therefrom. Mucous secretion essentially protects the cells on the inside of the stomach and duodenum from damage by acid or enzymes, for example by presenting bicarbonate to neutralize some of the effects of acid on the stomach's inner lining, as well as inhibitors to block the enzymatic activity. Once the mucous secretions of the epithelial cells stop, the inner lining of the stomach or duodenum would eventually be eroded by the combined action of acid and enzymes, leading to ulcer.

Modern medical research has identified many factors attributable to the formation of various gastrointestinal diseases, such as acute gastritis, chronic superficial gastritis, atrophic gastritis, antral gastritis, senile gastritis, bile-regurgitational gastritis, esophagitis, peptic ulcer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, indigestion, gastric neurosis, constipation, as well as various consequent conditions including gastric hyperacidity, hypochlorhydria, flatulency, gastrointestinal discomfort after meals, gastric discomfort after drinking, and gastric discomfort due to fasting. The factors include:

• Drinking, smoking, medication as well as other factors that destroy the barrier of gastric mucous membrane by directly damaging gastric mucous membrane or stimulating gastric acid secretion;
• Infection of all kinds of microorganism and their toxins causing the damage of gastrointestinal mucous membrane;
• Immunity factors: weakened immunological function causing a decrease in the content of secretory IgA in gastrointestinal fluid that impairs the body’s ability to discharge bacteria and toxin, further damaging the gastrointestinal mucous membrane;
• Regurgitation of duodenum which removes mucus on the surface of the gastric mucous membrane, thereby destroying the barrier of gastric mucous membrane;
• Chronic gastritis, leading to gastric ulcer and cancer;
• Chronic acid flux, leading to esophagitis and esophageal cancer;
• Constipation, which causes or contributes to gastrointestinal diseases;
• Slower bowel movement due to impaired motor neuron activities as a result of neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), multiple sclerosis, etc.); and
• Damage of intestinal wall nerves' structure due to intestinal diseases, thereby resulting in constipation, etc.

The physiological mechanisms of mucosal injury in gastritis and peptic ulcer diseases are thought to be an imbalance of aggressive factors, such as acid production or pepsin, and defensive factors, such as mucus production, bicarbinate, and blood flow. Erosive gastritis usually is associated with serious illness or with various drugs. Stress, ethanol, bile, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs disrupt the gastric mucosal barrier, making it vulnerable to normal gastric secretions. Infection with Helicobacter pylori, a short, spiral-shaped, microaerophilic gram-negative bacillus, is widely believed to be the leading cause of peptic ulcer diseases. H. pylori colonize the deep layers of the mucosal gel that coats the gastric mucosa and presumably disrupt its protective properties. H. pylori is thought to infect virtually all patients with chronic active gastritis.

Various medications have been developed to treat above described conditions associated with damaged or malfunctional mucosal tissues in the GI tract. Currently, there are generally three approaches taken by pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs for treating gastrointestinal disorders:

• To neutralize gastric acid by using antacids to relieve symptoms of gastritis. For example, aluminum and magnesium hydroxide (e.g., Maalux™and Mylanta™) neutralize gastric acidity, resulting in increase in pH in the stomach and duodenal bulb.

• To use H2-receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) to inhibit the action of histamine on the parietal cells, which inhibits acid secretion. Examples of H2 blockers include cimetidine (e.g., Tagamet™), nizatidine (e.g., Axid™), ranitidine hydrochloride (e.g., Zantac™), and famotidine (e.g., Pepcid™).

• To use proton-pump inhibitors that are more potent than H2 blockers to suppress acid secretion. Examples of proton-pump inhibitors include omeprazole (e.g., Prilosec™), lansoprazole (e.g., Prevacid™), pantoprazole (e.g., Protonix™), esomeprazole (e.g., Nexium™), and rabeprazole (e.g., Aciphex™).

These anti-acids or anti-ulcer drugs, although capable of alleviating the symptoms temporarily, have not been shown to be very effective in complete curing of ulcer and in preventing recurrence. After the treatment, the mucosa may be repaired with scars but the physiological structure and function of the mucosa have not been restored. For lack of a better remedy people hold the convention that since ulcer healing is a genetically programmed repair process (that includes inflammation, cell proliferation, re-epithelialization, formulation of granulation tissue, angiogenesis, interactions between various cells and the matrix and tissue remodeling), the healing of the mucosal lining in the gastrointestinal tract, just like healing of skin injuries, all inevitably results in scar formation.

Built upon MEBO’s revolutionary technologies and products for the regeneration of wounded skin that leads to complete restoration of skin structure and function and scar-less healing, MEBO has developed a series of products that are formulated for oral delivery and can be taken conveniently by users to maintain the integrity of or to repair/regenerate the mucosal tissue without scar formation. Similar to the process of regeneration of the epithelium of the skin, repair or regeneration of damaged or eroded epithelium on the mucosal lining can be achieved by activating and sustaining intrinsic regenerative potential of the body and cultivating stem cells of the body in situ, i.e., right at the site of ulcerative lesion. In summary, the MEBO regenerative nutrients for the gastrointestinal tracts include the following characteristics:

• Delivered via an innovative formulation that mimics mucus naturally secreted by mucosa and adheres to the GI lining to protect the mucosa from further injury or irritation;
• Isolating GI lesions from the low pH environment of the stomach so as to promote physiological regeneration and repair of mucosal membrane;
• Providing regenerative nutrients to the GI Tract to stimulate self-healing of the body via cultivation of stem cells; and
• Reducing or eliminating scarring of the GI lining to promote efficient absorption of nutrients and prevent relapse of GI disorders.

As shown in the following slideshow, healthy adult humans, even if having degenerated/shortened villi on the GI lining due to aging, can still benefit from the regenerative power of MEBO nutrients which promote re-growth of lush, longer villi (which are associated with a more youthful human body). Further, the mucosal tissues of those who suffered from various GI disorders (such as gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and erosive gastritis due to the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation) can be regenerated after a month of taking the MEBO nutrients. The newly regenerated mucosa is scarless. In contrast, mucosa of patients treated with conventional anti-acid and anti-ulcer drugs generally healed with scars, which is prone to relapse of ulcer. By using the MEBO nutrients to regenerate the GI lining without scar formation, the GI system is revitalized functionally to allow better absorption of nutrients to the body, thereby leading to nourishment of the body systematically.