Antisecretory and antiulcer activity of Asparagus racemosus Willd. against indomethacin plus phyloric ligation-induced gastric ulcer in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the antisecretory and antiulcer activity of Asparagus racemosus Willd. (methanolic extract) and its action against indomethacin (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) plus pyloric ligation (PL)-induced gastric ulcers in rats.


METHODS
Indomethacin plus PL-induced gastric ulceration model was used in the study.


RESULTS
Treatment with Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari) crude extract (100 mg/kg/day orally) for fifteen days significantly reduced ulcer index when compared with control group. The reduction in gastric lesions was comparable to a standard antiulcer drug Ranitidine (30 mg/kg/ day orally). Crude extract also significantly reduced volume of gastric secretion, free acidity and total acidity. A significant increase in total carbohydrate (TC) and TC/total protein (TP) ratio of gastric juice was also observed. No significant change in the total protein was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Asparagus racemosus was found to be an effective antiulcerogenic agent, whose activity can well be compared with that of ranitidine hydrochloride. The results of this study suggest that Asparagus racemosus causes an inhibitory effect on release of gastric hydrochloric acid and protects gastric mucosal damage.
Bhatnagar
Maheep
M
Department of Zoology, University College of Science, MLS University, Udaipur-313001, India. mbhatnagar@yahoo.com
Sisodia
S S
SS
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027761:Asparagus Plant; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000187:drug effects; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D007213:Indomethacin; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018517:Plant Roots; D011708:Pylorus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D011899:Ranitidine; D007213:Indomethacin