title: Aqueous suspension of anise "Pimpinella anisum" protects rats against chemically induced gastric ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To substantiate the claims of Unani and Arabian traditional medicine practitioners on the gastroprotective potential effect of a popular spice anise, "Pimpinella anisum L." on experimentally-induced gastric ulceration and secretion in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute gastric ulceration in rats was produced by various noxious chemicals including 80% ethanol, 0.2 mol/L NaOH, 25% NaCl and indomethacin. Anti-secretory studies were undertaken using pylorus-ligated Shay rat technique. Levels of gastric non-protein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) and wall mucus were estimated and gastric tissue was also examined histologically. Anise aqueous suspension was used in two doses (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) in all experiments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anise significantly inhibited gastric mucosal damage induced by necrotizing agents and indomethacin. The anti-ulcer effect was further confirmed histologically. In pylorus-ligated Shay rats, anise suspension significantly reduced the basal gastric acid secretion, acidity and completely inhibited the rumenal ulceration. On the other hand, the suspension significantly replenished ethanol-induced depleted levels of gastric mucosal NP-SH and gastric wall mucus concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anise aqueous suspension possesses significant cytoprotective and anti-ulcer activities against experimentally-induced gastric lesions. The anti-ulcer effect of anise is possibly prostaglandin-mediated and/or through its anti-secretory and antioxidative properties.
authors: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 2925 (59), Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia. iamofleh@yahoo.com
authors: Ibrahim A
authors: IA
authors: Al Mofleh
authors: Abdulqader A
authors: AA
authors: Alhaider
authors: Jaber S
authors: JS
authors: Mossa
authors: Mohammed O
authors: MO
authors: Al-Soohaibani
authors: Syed
authors: S
authors: Rafatullah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007213:Indomethacin; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D028042:Pimpinella; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D028321:Plant Preparations; D000431:Ethanol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D007213:Indomethacin