title: Gastroprotective activity of reconstituted red fruit pulp concentrate of Citrullus lanatus in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to evaluate the gastroprotective potential of the aqueous fruit pulp concentrate of Citrullus lanatus citroides (CLC) on pyloric ligation and indomethacin-induced ulcer in Wistar albino rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  In indomethacin-induced ulcer model, CLC was administered in the doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight orally, tds for 5 days. The antiulcer activity was determined via observing reduction in ulcer index whereas in the pyloric ligation model, the gastroprotective effect of CLC was assessed from the alteration in volume of gastric juice, pH, free and total acidity, protein concentration in gastric juice. Further lipid peroxide (LPO), and activities of enzymic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) was also determined along with the levels of hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid, fucose in gastric mucosa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both models, treatment with CLC caused a significant reduction in lesion index when compared to vehicle treated group, providing evidence for antiulcer capacity. In pyloric ligation model, pretreatment with CLC resulted in significant increase in pH, enzymic antioxidants, that is, SOD, CAT, with a significant decrease in volume of gastric juice, free and total acidity, protein concentration, acid output, and LPO levels respectively. The presence of the flavonoids and polyphenols may be responsible for the gastroprotective effect of CLC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The aqueous fruit pulp concentrate of CLC showed significant gastroprotective potential against pyloric ligation and indomethacin-induced ulceration in rats.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Banasthali University, Banasthali, Tonk, Rajasthan, India.
authors: Swapnil
authors: S
authors: Sharma
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Banasthali University, Banasthali, Tonk, Rajasthan, India.
authors: Vivek
authors: V
authors: Dave
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Banasthali University, Banasthali, Tonk, Rajasthan, India.
authors: Sarvesh
authors: S
authors: Paliwal
authors: Department of Chemistry, Banasthali University, Banasthali, Tonk, Rajasthan, India.
authors: Jaya
authors: J
authors: Dwivedi
authors: Department of Chemistry, Banasthali University, Banasthali, Tonk, Rajasthan, India.
authors: Sonika
authors: S
authors: Jain
keywords: Citrullus lanatus; gastroprotective; indomethacin-induced ulcer; pyloric ligation