title: Antiulcer and antioxidant activity of Asparagus racemosus Willd and Withania somnifera Dunal in rats.
abstract: Comparative study of the antiulcer and antisecretory activity of Asparagus racemosus Willd (Shatawari) and Withania somnifera Dunal (Ashwagandha) root extract with a standard drug, ranitidine, in various models of gastric ulcer in rats is presented. Ulcer was induced by the indomethacin (NSAID) and swim (restraint) stress treatment. Results demonstrated that A. racemosus as well as W. somnifera methanolic extract (100 mg/kg BW/day p.o.) given orally for 15 days significantly reduced the ulcer index, volume of gastric secretion, free acidity, and total acidity. A significant increase in the total carbohydrate and total carbohydrate/protein ratio was also observed. Study also indicated an increase in antioxidant defense, that is, enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbic acid, increased significantly, whereas a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation was observed. A. racemosus was more effective in reducing gastric ulcer in indomethacin-treated gastric ulcerative rats, whereas W. somnifera was effective in stress-induced gastric ulcer. Results obtained for both herbal drugs were comparable to those of the standard drug ranitidine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University College of Science, Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur-313001, India. mbhatnagar@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Maheep
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: Siddhraj S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sisodia
authors.forename: Rekha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027761:Asparagus Plant; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000187:drug effects; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D032341:Withania
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D007213:Indomethacin