Aqueous suspension of anise "Pimpinella anisum" protects rats against chemically induced gastric ulcers.
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.
Al Mofleh
Ibrahim A
IA
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 2925 (59), Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia. iamofleh@yahoo.com
Alhaider
Abdulqader A
AA
Mossa
Jaber S
JS
Al-Soohaibani
Mohammed O
MO
Rafatullah
Syed
S
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*
D000975:Antioxidants; D028321:Plant Preparations; D000431:Ethanol; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D007213:Indomethacin