Histochemical Studies of the Efficacy of an Anti-Ulcer Herbal Mixture on the Gastrointestinal Tract of Albino Rats

Objectives: The present study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and toxic effect of an anti-ulcer herbal mixture.

Method: Quantitative phytochemical analysis was carried out on the ethanol extract of the herbal mixture. The control group in the acute toxicity study received 2 ml of distilled water; other doses were 1 g/kg, 2 g/kg, 4 g/kg, 6 g/kg and 8 g/kg per body weight for 7 days. Rats were sacrificed 1hour after oral administration of 1 ml absolute ethanol and Gastrointestinal Tract taken for histological assessment. The anti-ulcerogenic activity was investigated by administering 2 ml of distilled water to control group of albino rats, omeprazole 20 mg/kg (reference group) and 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of the anti-ulcer herbal mixture to the test groups for 14 days and ulcers were induced in the rats by oral administration of 1 ml absolute ethanol.

Results: secondary metabolites like flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids and anti-oxidant like phytic acid and oxalate were quantitatively present. There was no death up to an acute maximum dose of 8 g/kg of the herbal mixture. The Pre-treatment groups of animals both in gross examination and histopathological assessment exhibited significant protection from ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury comparable with omeprazole group.

Conclusion: the study has shown that the extract from the herbal mixture could significantly protect the gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced ulcer.