Healing potential of Picrorhiza kurroa (Scrofulariaceae) rhizomes against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration: a mechanistic exploration.
BACKGROUND
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of the rhizomes of the Indian medicinal plant, Picrorhiza kurroa in healing indomethacin-induced acute stomach ulceration in mice and examine its capacity to modulate oxidative stress and the levels of prostaglandin (PGE2) and EGF during the process.


METHODS
Male swiss albino mice, ulcerated with indomethacin (18 mg/kg, p. o., single dose) were treated up to 7 days with different doses of the methanol extract of P. kurroa rhizomes (designated as PK). The healing capacity of the most effective dose of PK (20 mg/kg, p. o. x 3 d) was compared with that of omeprazole (Omez) (3 mg/kg, p. o. x 3 d). The effects of the drug-treatment for one and three days on the biochemical parameters were assessed by comparing the results with that of untreated mice of the 1st and 3rd day of ulceration. The stomach tissues of the mice were used for the biochemical analysis.


RESULTS
The macroscopic indices revealed maximum ulceration on the 3rd day after indomethacin administration, which was effectively healed by PK. Under the optimized treatment regime, PK and Omez reduced the ulcer indices by 45.1% (P < 0.01), and 76.3% respectively (P < 0.001), compared to the untreated ulcerated mice. Compared to the ulcerated untreated mice, those treated with PK for 3 days showed decreased the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) (32.7%, P < 0.05) and protein carbonyl (37.7%, P < 0.001), and increased mucin (42.2%, P < 0.01), mucosal PGE2 (21.4%, P < 0.05), and expressions of COX-1 and 2 (26.9% and 18.5%, P < 0.05), EGF (149.0%, P < 0.001) and VEGF (56.9%, P < 0.01). Omez reduced the TBARS (29.4%, P < 0.05), and protein carbonyl (38.9%, P < 0.001), and increased mucin (38.3%, P < 0.01), without altering the other parameters significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
PK (20 mg/kg, p. o. x 3 days) could effectively heal indomethacin-induced stomach ulceration in mice by reducing oxidative stress, and promoting mucin secretion, prostaglandin synthesis and augmenting expressions of cyclooxygenase enzymes and growth factors.
Banerjee
Debashish
D
Bio-Organic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai - 400 085, India. debashish101@gmail.com
Maity
Biswanath
B
Nag
Subrata K
SK
Bandyopadhyay
Sandip K
SK
Chattopadhyay
Subrata
S
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007213:Indomethacin; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D008517:Phytotherapy; D032261:Picrorhiza; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027343:Rhizome; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000737:chemistry
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015232:Dinoprostone; D007213:Indomethacin