title: Healing effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. in experimental gastric ulcer in rat.
abstract: Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. (family Ephedraceae) is a medicinal plant very frequently cited as acting against gastrointestinal disorders in ethno-pharmacological inventories of the Kerman region of Iran. This study was done to evaluate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract from the stems of E. pachyclada for treatment of gastric ulcers induced by ethanol in Wistar rats. Experimental treatments were the hydro-alcoholic extract of E. pachyclada (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, orally), omperazole as standard drug (20 mg/kg, orally), and control group. Ulcer index in mm2 and histological examination were evaluated. On 3, 6, 9 and 12 day after treatments, the hydro-alcoholic extract of E. pachyclata (1000 mg/kg) produced 51, 72, 98.8 and 100% and omperazole also produced 53, 79, 93 and 100% curative effect for gastric mucosal damage in ethanol model, respectively. The results of the histopalogical analysis indicated the hydro-alcoholic extract of E. pachyclada at 1000 mg/kg was effective in experimentally healing rat ulcers. E. pachyclada accelerated ulcer healing in rats and, thus supports its folk medicine use by Kerman people.
authors.affiliation: Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Research Center for Medicinal Plants & Ethno-veterinary, P.O. Box: 166, Shahrekord, Iran. ghasemi@iaushk.ac.ir
authors.forename: Abdollah Ghasemi
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Pirbalouti
authors.affiliation: Jiroft Branch, Islamic Azad University, Young Researchers Club, Jiroft, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amirmohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Plants Program, College of Natural Sciences, Massachusetts University, Amherst, 01003, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Lyle
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Craker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D029789:Ephedra / Q000737:chemistry; D000431:Ethanol; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018547:Plant Stems; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D000431:Ethanol; D009853:Omeprazole