Gastroprotective Effect of Hydro-Alcoholic Extract of Polygonum bistorta Lin Root in IndomethacinInduced Gastric Ulcers in Sprague Dawley Rats

  Objective: Gastroprotective effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Polygonum bistorta Linn root (HEPB) was investigated in indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in Sprague Dawley rats. Background: Polygonum bistorta has been used as hemostatic drug in Unani system of medicine due to its cold and dry temperament. Methods: The rats were grouped into six groups each consisting of five rats. Group-I, group-II, group-III, group-IV, group-V and group-VI rats received 1 mL/kg/day 1% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), 1 mL/kg/day 1% CMC, 500 mg/kg/day HEPB, 1000 mg/kg/day HEPB, 20 mg/kg/day ranitidine and 1000 mg/kg/day HEPB per oral (po) respectively for 10 days. Further, rats of all groups except group-I and group-VI were administered with 20 mg/kg b.wt indomethacin po on eleventh day. Then, rats were sacrificed, stomach was opened, and ulcer index was calculated. Mucus barrier and histopathology was determined. Rest of stomach was homogenized in buffer to evaluate antioxidant parameters thiobarbituric acid, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Results: HEPB in group-III and group-IV significantly (p<0.01) and dose dependently increased the levels of mucus, SOD and catalase while, decreased ulcer index and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances compared to that of ulcer control group-II. Histopathological findings showed that indomethacin treatment caused gastric ulcer while; HEPB treatment protected them from indomethacin-induced ulcer. Ulcer protection potency of HEPB 1000 mg/kg/day in group-IV was comparable to that of 20 mg/kg/day ranitidine in group-V. Conclusion: HEPB protected stomach from indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in rats by prevention of induced muco-oxidative stress. Thus, HEPB possesses gastroprotective effect against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers in rats.