Study validates gastric anti-ulcer properties of herb medicine Rocket 'Eruca sativa'

Washington, May 8 (ANI): A study conducted by Saudi Arabian researchers has confirmed that a herb called Rocket "Eruca sativa L." (EER), a member of the Brassicacae family, has potential anti-ulcer medicinal properties.

Led by Dr. Syed Rafatullah, the research team validated the gastric anti-ulcer properties of EER on experimentally-induced gastric secretion and ulceration in albino rats.

For their research, the group undertook gastric acid secretion studies using pylorus-ligated rats.

They revealed that gastric lesions in the rats were induced by noxious chemicals including ethanol, strong alkalis, indomethacin and hypothermic restraint stress.

The levels of gastric wall mucus, nonprotein sulfhydryls and malondialdehyde were also measured in the glandular stomach of rats following ethanol administration. The gastric tissue was also examined histologically. The extract was used in two doses (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) in all experiments.

The researchers observed that the ethanolic extract of EER significantly and dose-dependently reduced the basal gastric acid secretion, titratable acidity and ruminal ulceration.

Rocket extract significantly attenuated gastric ulceration induced by necrotizing agents, indomethacin and hypothermic restraint stress. The anti-ulcer effect was further confirmed histologically.

On the other hand, the extract significantly replenished gastric wall mucus and nonprotein sulfhydryls levels, as well as the malondialdehyde level significantly reduced by extract pretreatment.

They concluded that EER extract possesses antisecretory, cytoprotective, and anti-ulcer activities against experimentally-induced gastric lesions. The anti-ulcer effect is possibly through prostaglandinmediated activity and/or through its anti-secretory and antioxidant properties.

The study has been published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology. (ANI)