title: Protective Effect of Tragopogon Graminifolius DC Against Ethanol Induced Gastric Ulcer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastric ulcer is a serious digestive system problem and affects 5% to 10% of people during their life. Chemical antigastric ulcer drugs have side effect, cannot prevent recurrence of ulcer and also show drug interaction with many other medicaments. Tragopogon graminifolius DC.(TG) is a herb which is widely used in the west of Iran and traditionally consumed for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. TG was introduced as one of the most beneficial plants for digestive ulcer in Iranian traditional medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine the acute toxicity and protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of TG (HeTG) against ethanol induced gastric ulcer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 7). HeTG at the doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg were administered orally for 15 days and gastric ulcer was induced by pure ethanol (1 ml/200gr body weight). Ulcer index and protective rate were calculated and histological changes were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HeTG was nontoxic up to 2000 mg/Kg. Ulcer index decreased in extract groups significantly. Protective rates of HeTG were 48.94%, 46.39%, and 43.99% in 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg extract, respectively. 50 mg/kg HeTG group had higher protective effect. There was relatively normal cellular arrangement in HeTG groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TG showed protective effect against ethanol induced gastric ulcer. This study confirmed traditional medicine claims of TG.
authors.affiliation: Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IR Iran ; Department of Traditional Pharmacy, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohamad Hosein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Farzaei
authors.affiliation: Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mozafar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khazaei
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abbasabadei
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feyzmahdavi
authors.affiliation: Akhtar Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Gholam Reza
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Mohseni
keywords: Gastric Ulcer; Protective Effect; Traditional Medicine; Tragopogon