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

Objective: Biebersteinia multifida 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. Materials and Methods: 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 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-alpha were determined. Results: In GU group, severe mucosal injuries were observed (p<0.0001 as compared to C group). The lesions in CO and treatment groups were much milder than GU group by regarding ulcer area and number (p<0.001 for all cases). In treated (BM 150 and BM 300) groups, the gastric mucosal TAC and NO level were significantly higher than GU group (p<0.05 for all cases). Serum TNF-alpha level was not significantly different between GU and other groups. Conclusion: B. multifida 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.