Gastro-protective effect of Biebersteinia multifida root hydro-methanolic extract in rats with ethanol-induced peptic ulcer

Abstract

<strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Objective:</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> <em>Biebersteinia multifida</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> is one of the native plants of Iran and its root is used in folk medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the gastro-protective effect of the hydro-methanolic extract of this plant's roots against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Materials and Methods:</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> The following five groups of seven rats were included in this study: control (C), gastric ulcer (GU), control omeprazole (CO) and two treatment groups (the latter 3 groups were rats with gastric ulcer that orally received omeprazole, 20 mg/kg, or the root extract at 150 and 300 mg/kg (BM 150</span><span style="font-size: medium;">and BM 300, respectively) 1 hour before ulcer induction). One hour after ulcer induction, blood sampling was performed and after sacrificing animals, the stomachs were immediately removed. Gastric mucosal injury was studied grossly to determine the number and area of gastric ulcers. The level of nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in gastric mucosa as well as serum TNF-α were determined. </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Results:</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> In GU group, severe mucosal injuries were observed (p<span style="font-size: medium;">The lesions in CO and treatment groups were much milder than GU group by regarding ulcer area and number (p<span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">In treated (BM 150 and BM 300) groups, the gastric mucosal TAC and NO level were significantly higher than GU group (p<br /> <strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Conclusion:</span></strong><span style="font-size: medium;"> <em>B. multifida </em></span><span style="font-size: medium;">possesses gastro-protective effects against ethanol-induced ulcer model; this effect is at least partly related to plant's antioxidant and NO production accelerating properties.</span></span></span></span>