Anti-ulcer activity of ocimum sanctum (Thuiasi ) musa (AAb Group,Nendran) and Withania somnifera(Amukkiram) in rats

Abstract

The study was~conducted in adult albino rats of either sex to assess the comparative anti-ulcer effect of powder and alcoholic extract of Ocimum sanctum (leaves), Musa (AAB group, "Nendran", mature, unripe fruit) and Withania somnifera (root) with Famotidine, at different dose levels given orally for 10 days and, 20 days after induction of gastric ulcers with aspririn at the dose rate of 200 mg/kg body weight for 7 days

orally.

The doses of different plant preparation were fixed

arbitarily (Table 1) .

Table 1.

Doses of oc imum sanct um leaves, Musa (AAB group •. Nendran" ) mature and unripe fruit, withania somnifera root and Famotidine (in mg/kg orally) were fixed as below

Plants

Alcoholic extracts 10 dayo treatment 20 days treatment

Powder 10 days treatment . 20 days treatment

Ocimum sanctum G( 1) G(2) G(3) G(4 ) G(5) G(6) G(7) G(8) 250 500 250 500 500 1000 500 1000 Nusa (MS group G(9) 0(10) G( 11) (3(12) G( 13) G( 14) G(15) G( 16) Nendran) 500 1000 500 1000 1000 2000 1000 2000 Withania G(l7 ) G(18) G( 19) G(20) G(21) G(22) G(23) G(24 ) somnifera 250 500 250 500 500 1000 500 1000 Famotidine 10 days treatment F(10) 20 days treatment F(20) 40 mg/kg p.o 40 mg/kg p.o Control group A (CG(A) I - Aspirin treated controls (200 mg/kg b.wt) Control group B (CG(B) I - Natural healing for 10 days Control group C (CG(C) I - Natural healing for 20 days Control group A [CG(A)] was given aspirin at the dose rate of 200 mg/kg body weight for 7 days and on the 8th day, the rats were sacrificed and number of ulcers and severity (ulcer score)

were determined with the help of magnifying lens.

11 The ulcer

index and healing index were calculated based on the formulae:

Ulcer index =

Number of ulcers

+ Ulcer + score

% incidence Number of animal

Ulcer index (control) CG(A) Healing index

Ulcer index (control) CG(A)

Ulcer index (drug) x 100

The control group B [CG(B)] and control group C [CG(C)] were administered aspirin orally for 7 days and they were maintained by normal feeding and watering without any treatment for 10 days and 20 days respectively to assess natural healing. Famotidine was taken as standard drug and given orally at the dose rate of 40 mg/kg body weight for 10 days and 20 days respectively. The anti-ulcer activity of plants under study was compared with Famotidine . . Haematological parameters such a erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, differential count and haemoglobin count were decermined to assess any changes in the haemogram. Histopathological study was also conducted to evaluate the severity of ulceration and healing process. The result of the present study with O. sanctum leaf powder and alcoholic extract showed that none of the experimental

groups produced statistically significant healing effects comparable to Famotidine groups. Observation with Musa (AAB group, "Nendran") unripe fruit powder and alcoholic extract have indicated that all experimental group under study with the plant have better healing effect than control group for 10 days. The alcoholic extract of Musa (AAB group, "Nendran") at the dose rate of 1000 mg/kg body weight for 10 days, 500 mg/kg body weight for 20 days and 1000 mg/kg body weight for 20 days produced healing comparable to Famotidine at the dose rate of 40 mg/kg body weight for 10 days and 20 days respectively. The result of healing obtained with W. somnifera root indicate that alcoholic extracts at the dose rate of 250 mg/kg body weight for 20 days and 500 mg/kg body weight for 20 days and powder at the dose rate of 1000 mg/kg body weight for 20 days are comparable with Famotidine groups administered for 10 days and 20 days respectively. All other experimental group under study with this plant produced healing comparable to Famotidine administered for 10 days. Haematological study revealed no significant change and all values fall within the normal range of blood value for the species under study. Histopathological study revealed various ulcer lesions and healing process.