Purpose:
To assess the gastroprotective potential of the stem bark ethanol extract of
Delonix regia
(EDR) on ethanol and cold restrain stress-induced ulcer in experimental rats.
Methods:
EDR (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, orally) was evaluated on ethanol and cold restrain
stress-induced ulcer in experimental rats. In ethanol induced ulcer model, ulcer index, percent
protection, reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase
(CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) levels in stomach tissue were
evaluated. In the cold restrain stress model, ulcer
index, percent protection, and GSH levels were
evaluated. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay of EDR was also performed.
Results:
EDR caused a significant (p < 0.05-0.001) decreased
ulcer index in ethanol (61.33-76.00%)
and cold restrain stress (47.34-84.28 %) models. The EDR caused a significant (p < 0.05 - 0.001)
increase in SOD (0.20 - 0.27 U/mg protein, CAT (200 -270 μmole H
2O
2/mg of
protein/minute), GSH
(1.63 - 1.17 μg/mg protein) and reduction in nitric
oxide (NO) level, pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-αand IL-6) levels and inhibition in neutrophil accumulation (p < 0.001) in ethanol-induced model. EDR
exhibited significant antioxidant activity with IC
50 value of 45.23 ± 3.23 μg/ml.
Conclusion:
The results suggest that EDR has gastroprotective effect in the two ulcer models and this
may be due to its antioxidant effect.
