Mitra et al Mintage journal of Pharmaceutical & Medical SciencesI14-17
Vol 3 Suppl 2, May 2014 www.mintagejournals.com 14
SCREENING THE EFFICACY OF FORTY MEDICINAL PLANTS NORTH EAST HIMALAYAS
OF INDIAN SUBCONTINENT IN INDOMETHACIN INDUCED GASTRIC ULCER IN ALBINO
RATS
PRASANTA KUMAR MITRA
Department of Biochemistry, North Bengal Medical College, Sushrutanagar 734012 Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal, India.*Corresponding author: Professor & Head, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Gangtok, Sikkim.E-mail: dr_pkmitra@rediffmail.com
Received -03-05-14; Reviewed and accepted -15-05-14
ABSTRACT
Objective: To know anti gastric ulcer effect, if any, of 40 medicinal plants. Method: Gastric ulcer was induced in rats by indomethacin and anti gastric ulcer activity of medicinal plants was evaluated. Result: Nine medicinal plants showed anti gastric ulcer activity under the experimental conditions. Conclusion: Active compounds of these planst may be included in future in the list of anti gastric ulcer drugs.
Key words: Medicinal plants, gastric ulcer, indomethacin, north east Himalayas...
INTRODUCTION
Medicinal plants of North East Himalayas of Indian subcontinent are known efficacious in stomach disorder [1, 2]. Earlier reports from this laboratory indicated anti ulcerogenic role of certain medicinal plants of this region [3-9]. Other workers also suggested the anti gastric ulcer activity of Araucaria bidwillii [10], Vernonia lasiopus [11], Camellia sinensis [12,13], Glycerrhiza glabra [14], Pongamia pinnata [15] etc. Tempted on these findings a project was undertaken to screen medicinal plants of North East Himalayas of Indian subcontinent for their anti gastric ulcer activities, if any, in experimental ulcer model. We had reported earlier results of first phase of the work in ethanol induced gastric ulcers in
albino rats [16,17]. In this communication results of screening of forty medicinal plants of North East Himalayas being cultivated at the medicinal plants garden of the University of North Bengal for their anti gastric ulcer activity in indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in albino rats are reported.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant materials
Forty medicinal plants were selected for screening of their anti gastric ulcer activity. Plants were listed in Table 1.
Table 1: Medicinal plants used in the present study.
Medicinal plants (Family)
Medicinal plants (Family)
Artemisia vulgaris L. (Asteraceae) Enydra fluctuans Lour.(Asteraceae) Aerva javanica Juss. Ex
Schult (Amaranthaceae)
Ficus hispida L. f. (Maraca)
Asparagus racemosus Wild (Asparagaceae)
Gymnema sylvestre(Retz.)R. Br.exSchult (Asclepiadaceae) Andrographis paniculata
(Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae)
Hygroohila auriculata (Schum.) Heine (Acanthaceae)
Acalypha indica L. (Euphorbiaceae)
Heliotropium indicum L. (Boraginaceae)
Amaranthus spinosus L. (Amaranthaceae)
Houttuynia cordata Thunberg (Saururaceae)
Ambroma augusta (L.) L.f. (Sterculiaceae)
Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.) Aiton(Apocynaceae) Anacardium occidentale L.
(Anacardiceae)
Indigofera astragalina DC (Fabaceae)
Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa Jatropha curcas L. (Rutaceae)
(Euphorbiaceae)
Acorus calamus L. (Acoraceae)
Justicia gendarussa L. f. (Acanthaceae)
Acmella uliginosa (Swartz) Cassini (Asteraceae)
Jusricia adhatoda L. (Acanthaceae) Allium cepa L.
(Alliaceae)
Kaempferia rotunda L. (Zingiberaceae) Albizia chinensis (Osbeck)
Merrill (Mimosaceae)
Kaempferia galangal L. (Zingiberaceae) Ananas comosus (L.)
Merr. (Bromeliaceae)
Ludwigia octavalvis(Jacq.) Raven (Onagraceae) Anisomeles indica (L.)
Kuntze (Lamiaceae)
Mitra et al Mintage journal of Pharmaceutical & Medical SciencesI14-17
Vol 3 Suppl 2, May 2014 www.mintagejournals.com 15 Annona reticulata L.
(Annonaceae)
Manihot esculenta Crantz (Euphorbiaceae)
Argyreia roxburghii Choisy (Convolvulaceae)
Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel (Rutaceae) Barleria lupulina Lindley
(Acanthaceae) (Meliaceae)
Melia azedirach L.
Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (Scrophulariaceae)
Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. (Fabaceae)
Boerhavia diffusa L. (Nyctaginaceae)
Michelia champaca L. (Magnoliaceae)
Leaves of the plants were collected from medicinal plants garden of the University of North Bengal during April and September, 2012 and identified by the taxonomist of the Department of Botany, University of North Bengal. Leaves were kept in the department with proper voucher number for future reference.
Preparation of the test drug
Leaf of the medicinal plants under study were shade dried and powdered. The powder was used as the test drug.
Experimental animals
Wistar strain albino rats (160 - 180 g) of either sex were used for the study. Rats were housed in colony cages (5 rats / cage) and were kept for at least a week in the experimental wing of the animal house (room temperature 25
– 28 degree centigrade and humidity 60 – 65% with 12 h light
and dark cycle) before experimentation . Animals were fed on laboratory diet with water ad libitum. six rats were used for each set of experiment. The animal experiment was approved by the ethics committee of the Institute.
Chemical
Indomethacin (Torrent Research Centre, Gandhinagar) was used in the study.
Production of gastric ulcers
Indomethacin induced gastric ulcer was produced by the method of Parmar and Desai [18] with slight modification. Rats were fasted for 18 h when no food but water was supplied ad libitum. Indomethacin(10 mg/kg) was given to rats orally through a feeding tube in two doses at an interval of 15 hour. 1h after administration of last dose the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The stomach was taken out and incised along the greater curvature to examine the ulcers.
Anti gastric ulcer study
Rats were divided into 2 groups;
Indomethacin treated : Indomethacin was given to rats as
stated above.
Indomethacin and the test drug : Test drug (powdered leaf
of the medicinal plant) was given to the rats orally through a feeding tube 30 minutes prior to each dose of indomethacin. Test drug was used in the dose of 1.0 g/kg. Dose selection of the test drug is based on our earlier report [16,17].
Evaluation of ulcer index
This was done by the method of Szelenyi and Thiemer [19].
Gastric lesions were counted and the mean ulcerative index was calculated as follows :
I - Presence of edema, hyperemia and single sub mucosal punctiform hemorrhage.
II – Presence of sub mucosal hemorrhagic lesions with small
erosions.
III – Presence of deep ulcer with erosions and invasive lesions.
Ulcer index = (number of lesion I) x1+(number of lesion II) x2 + (number of lesion III) x 3.
Statistical Analysis
The values were expressed as mean ± SEM and were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 20th versions. Differences
between means were tested employing Duncan’s multiple
comparison test and significance was set at p < 0.05.
RESULTS
Role of forty medicinal plants of North Eastern Himalayas of Indian subcontinent was studied in indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in albino rats. Results showed that indomethacin produced massive gastric ulcers in all rats. Ulcers were mostly superficial. There was bleeding in the stomach. Adhesion and dilatation were also seen. Ulcer index was 32.5 ± 2.13. Nine medicinal plants out of forty had significant (p<0.001) anti gastric ulcer activity under the experimental condition The plants were Artemisia vulgaris L., Asparagus racemosus, Amaranthus spinosus L., Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa, Ananas comosus (L.), Ficus hispida L. f., Gymnema sylvestre(Retz.)R., Kaempferia rotunda L. and Murraya koenigii (L.).The rest thirty one plants had no anti gastric ulcer activity against indomethacin induced gastric ulcers in albino rats. Results are shown in Table – 2.
DISCUSSION
Peptic ulcer, Because of its frequency and worldwide distribution, continues to be a subject of numerous investigations, both experimental and clinico pathological. In this respect peptic ulcer occupies a place secondary to carcinoma in the field of gastroenterology.
Medicines are there to treat peptic ulcer [20] . If the ulcer is due to infection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), the different
medications are usually prescribed. This is known as “Triple
therapy”. This includes a proton pump inhibitor viz.
omeprazole to reduce acid production and two antibiotics to get rid of the organism. Sometimes, instead of one of the antibiotics, bismuth salicylate may be the third medication recommended. This drug, available over the counter, coats and soothes the stomach, protecting it from the damaging effects of acid. Two, rather than three, drug regimens are currently being developed. For non H. pylori ulcers number of drugs are now available for treatment. These drugs are broadly classified into two categories:
Those that decrease or counter acid – pepsin secretion viz.
ranitidine, famotidine etc. (H2 - blockers), pirenzepine,
telenzepine etc. (M1 – blockers), omeprazole, lansaprazole
etc. (proton pump inhibitors)
Those that affect cytoprotection by virtue of their effects
in mucosal defense factors like sucralfate , carbenoxolone etc.
Mitra et al Mintage journal of Pharmaceutical & Medical SciencesI14-17
Vol 3 Suppl 2, May 2014 www.mintagejournals.com 16 herbs in search for new and novel molecules, which afford
better protection and decrease the incidence of relapse.
In search for anti ulcer drugs from medicinal plants we in our laboratory started screening program and identified few medicinal plants of this region having anti ulcer activity against ethanol induced gastric ulcers in albino rats [16, 17]. Since one gastric ulcer model is not sufficient to prove conclusively anti ulcer activity
of plant we undertook screening program in indomethacin induced gastric ulcer model in albino rats.
Forty medicinal plants of Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas were taken and their anti ulcer activity was noted in indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in albino rats. Out of forty nine medicinal plants had anti gastric ulcer activity. Mechanism of anti gastric ulcer activity of these plants is now under investigation.
Table 2: Showing effects of medicinal plants in indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in rats.
Group Ulcer index Group Ulcer index
Indomethacin treated 32.5 ± 2.13 Indomethacin treated 32.5 ± 2.13
Indomethacin pretreated with
Indomethacin pretreated with Artemisia vulgaris L.
(Asteraceae)
15.6 ± 1.22* Enydra fluctuans Lour.
(Asteraceae)
29.7 ± 1.67
Aerva javanica Juss. Ex Schult (Amaranthaceae)
29.0 ± 2.14 Ficus hispida L. f.
(Moraceae)
16.2 ± 1.67*
Asparagus racemosus Wild (Asparagaceae)
14.1 ± 1.12* Gymnema sylvestre(Retz.)R.
Br.exSchult (Asclepiadaceae)
15.3± 1.55* Andrographis paniculata
(Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae)
30.7 ± 1.52 Hygroohila auriculata
(Schum.)Heine (Acanthaceae)
29.8 ± 2.11
Acalypha indica L. (Euphorbiaceae)
29.9 ± 1.78 Heliotropium indicum L.
Boraginaceae)
31.4 ± 2.18
Amaranthus spinosus L. (Amaranthaceae)
16.0 ± 1.23* Houttuynia cordata Thunberg
(Saururaceae)
29.8 ± 1.77
Ambroma augusta (L.) L.f. (Sterculiaceae)
30.6 ± 1.56 Ichnocarpus frutescens (L.)
Aiton (Apocynaceae)
29.8 ± 1.99
Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiceae)
29.7 ± 1.56 Indigofera astragalina DC
(Fabaceae)
30.8 ± 2.78
Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa (Rutaceae)
15.1 ± 1.23* Jatropha curcas L.
(Euphorbiaceae)
30.6± 1.94
Acorus calamus L. (Acoraceae)
Justicia gendarussa L. f. (Acanthaceae)
29.8 ± 1.88 Acmella uliginosa (Swartz)
Cassini (Asteraceae)
30.7 ± 2.77 Jusricia adhatoda L.
(Acanthaceae)
30.1±2.63
Allium cepa L. (Alliaceae)
29.9 ± 2.68 Kaempferia rotunda L.
(Zingiberaceae)
14.7±1.66*
Albizia chinensis (Osbeck) Merrill (Mimosaceae)
29.8 ± 1.27 Kaempferia galangal L.
(Zingiberaceae)
29.5± 2.38
Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. (Bromeliaceae)
15.7 ± 1.55* Ludwigia octavalvis(Jacq.)
Raven (Onagraceae)
30.7 ± 1.98
Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze (Lamiaceae)
30.9 ± 1.98 Marsilea minuta L.
(Marsileaceae)
29.9 ± 1.62 Annona reticulata L.
(Annonaceae)
30.8 ± 1.76 Manihot esculenta Crantz
(Euphorbiaceae)
29.9 ± 2.33
Argyreia roxburghii Choisy (Convolvulaceae)
29.9 ± 2.57 Murraya koenigii (L.)
Sprengel (Rutaceae)
15.8±1.56*
Barleria lupulina Lindley (Acanthaceae)
29.9 ± 1.44 Melia azedirach L.
(Meliaceae)
29.7 ± 2.24
Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. (Scrophulariaceae)
13.8 ± 1.33* Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC.
(Fabaceae)
30.1 ± 2.32
Boerhavia diffusa L. (Nyctaginaceae) *p<0.001
30.6 ± 2.12 Michelia champaca L.
(Magnoliaceae)
29.9 ± 2.08
CONCLUSION
Forty medicinal plants of North East Himalayas of Indian subcontinent were screened for anti ulcer activity in indomethacin induced gastric ulcer model in albino rats. Nine plants were found efficacious against the model studied.
REFERENCES
1. Chopra Col Sir RN & Chopra IC. Indigenous drugs of India,
U.N.Dhar and Sons Private Limted, Kolkata, 1958, P. 605.Gurung Bejoy. The medicinal plants of Sikkim Himalaya. Pub. Bejoy Gurung, East Sikkim, 2002, P. 55.
2. Mitra PK. In search of an anti ulcerogenic herbal
preparation. Trans. Zool. Soc.East India. 2001; 5: 59 – 64.
3. Mitra P and Mitra PK. Biochemical studies of the anti
ulcerogenic activity of Nirmali (Strychnos potatorum Linn) in restraint induced gastric ulcers in rats. Trans. Zool.
Soc. East. India. 2005; 9: 39 – 42.
4. Mitra P and Mitra P K. Use of Astilbe rivularis Buch. – Ham.
Ex D. Don as anti – peptic ulcer agent. Pleione. 2008; 2(1):
74 – 76.
5. Mitra Prasanta Kumar. Comparative evaluation of anti
gastric ulcer activity of root, stem and leaves of Thalictrum
foliolosum DC in rats.VRI Phytomedicine. 2013; 1(1): 3 – 7.
6. Mitra Prasenjit, Ghosh Tanaya and Mitra Prasanta Kumar.
Mitra et al Mintage journal of Pharmaceutical & Medical SciencesI14-17
Vol 3 Suppl 2, May 2014 www.mintagejournals.com 17
7. Ghosh Debiprasad, Mitra Prasenjit, Ghosh Tanaya, Mitra
Prasanta Kumar, Anti peptic ulcer activity of the leaves of Amaranthus spinosus L. in rats. Mintage Journal of Pharmaceutical Medical Sciences, 2013, 2(3), 52-53.
8. Ghosh Debiprasad, Mitra Prasenjit, Ghosh Tanaya, Mitra
Prasanta Kumar, Anti peptic ulcer activity of an isolated compound (AS-1) from the leaves of Amaranthus spinosus L. Mintage Journal of Pharmaceutical & Medical Sciences, 2013, 2(3), 54-56.
9. Dalvi SS, Nayak VK and Pohujani SM. Effect of gugulipid
on bioavailability of diltiazem and propranonol. J. Assoc.
Phys. India, 1994; 42 : 454 – 455.
10. Johri RK, Singh C and Kaul BL. Vernonia lasiopus and Vernonia galamensis : A medicinal perspective. Res. Ind.
1995; 40: 327 – 328.
11. Maity S, Vedasiromoni JR and Ganguly D K. Anti – ulcer
effect of the hot water extract of black tea (Camellia sinensis). J. Ethanopharmacol. 1995; 46 : 167 - 174.
12. Maity S, Chaudhuri T, Vedasiromoni JR and Ganguly DK. Cytoprotection mediated anti ulcer effect of tea root
extract. Indian J. Pharmacol. 2003; 35 : 213 – 219.
13. De B, Maiti RN, Joshi VK, Agrawal VK and Goel RK. Effect of some Sitavirya drugs on gastric secretion and
ulceration. Indian J Exp Biol. 1997; 35 : 1084 – 1087
14. Singh RK, Joshi VK and Goel RK. Pharmacological actions of Pongamia pinnata seeds -a preliminary study. Indian J Exp Biol. 996; 34:1204.
15. Mitra PK, Mitra P and Debnath PK. Screening the efficacy of some East Himalayan medicinal plants against ethanol induced gastric ulcer in Albino rats. Pleione,
2008; 2(2): 233 – 238.
16. Mitra PK, Mitra P, Das AP, Ghosh C, Sarkar A and Chowdhury D . Screening the efficacy of some east Himalayan medicinal plants against ethanol induced
gastric ulcer in albino rats, Pleione, 2010; 4(1): 69 – 75.
17. Parmar, NS and Desai, JK. A review of the current methodology for the evaluation of gastric and duodenal antiulcer agents. Indian J Phrmacol.,1993; 25 : 120-35. 18. Szelenyi I. and Thiemer K. Distension ulcer as a model for
testing of drugs for ulcerogenic side effects. Arch. Toxicol.,
1978; 41: 99 – 105.
19. Tierney (Dr.) LM, Mephee SJ and Papadakis M. In “Current
Medical Diagnosis Treatment”, Pub. Mc Craw Hill, New York.
2001. P. 125.
20. Barrowman and Pfeiffer. In Drugs and Peptic Ulcer, CRL Press, USA. 1982. P. 123.
