Gastroprotective Effect of Curcuma Longa Linn. Against Ethanol Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats

Abstract

BACKGROUND Peptic ulcer is a global health problem, both in terms of morbidity and mortality. There are many treatment strategies for tackling this disease including proton pump inhibitors, H2 receptor antagonists, ulceroprotectives like prostaglandin analogues and sucralfate. But they have certain limitations like adverse effects, drug interactions and relapses. Some medicinal plants are found to be effective in treating and preventing peptic ulcer diseases. Scientific evaluation of these herbal extracts with active chemical ingredient can be beneficial to find out newer treatment modalities for peptic ulcer diseases with lesser adverse effects and drug interaction. In the present study, Curcuma longa, a plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family was chosen for investigating its antiulcer properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a Comparative Study. The rhizomes of Curcuma longa were collected locally. The extract was prepared by soxlet extraction with 50% ethanol. Albino rats of Wistar strain (120-200 grams) obtained from the animal house of medical college Thiruvananthapuram were used for the study. Sucralfate was purchased from Sigma Labs, Mumbai. Antiulcer effect of the extract was studied in the rat models, where mucosal damage was induced by ethyl alcohol. RESULTS Extract of Curcuma longa exhibited significant protection against alcohol induced gastric damage at dose levels of 1000 mg/kg body weight comparable to that of standard drug Sucralfate. CONCLUSION The present study with extract of Curcuma longa revealed that it has significant anti-ulcer activity.