Cyperus rotundus L. prevents non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced gastric mucosal damage by inhibiting oxidative stress.
BACKGROUND
Since centuries, Cyperus rotundus L. has been used against gastric ailments in traditional Indian medicine, especially in Ayurveda and Siddha. Therefore, it is very obvious that this plant will have a greater potential to treat gastric ulcers. For this reason, in this study, we mainly focused on the ulcer-preventive role of C. rotundus in rats treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.


METHODS
Seventy percent methanolic extract of the plant was prepared and fed to 36-h fasted rats. Ulcer was induced in these rats by single oral administration of aspirin (400 mg/kg) 1 h after the administration of the plant extract. After 4 h, the rats were sacrificed, ulcer index was calculated, and antioxidant activity of the extract in gastric mucosa was evaluated by determining the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and tissue lipid peroxidation.


RESULTS
Oral administration of different doses of C. rotundus rhizome methanolic extract (CME; 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) significantly inhibited aspirin-induced gastric ulceration in animals in a dose-dependent manner (49.32% and 53.15%, respectively), which was also comparable with the standard gastric ulcer drug ranitidine. Administration of CME also significantly increased the activity of superoxide dismutase, cellular glutathione and glutathione peroxidase, and inhibited the lipid peroxidation in the gastric mucosa of ulcerated animals in a dose-dependent manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that C. rotundus extract has the capacity to significantly inhibit aspirin-induced gastric ulcers through an antioxidant defense mechanism. This study warrants further examination of this plant for its gastroprotective activities.
Deepa
D
Thomas
Sindhu
S
Govindhan
Edathiruthykottuckkal Chandran
EC
Baiju
Ganesan
G
Padmavathi
Ajaikumar B
AB
Kunnumakkara
Jose
J
Padikkala
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects; D029786:Cyperus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione; D001241:Aspirin; D000432:Methanol