Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Gastroprotective and ulcer healing properties of ethanol extract of Alpinia conchigera rhizome in experimentally-induced gastric ulcer in rats

Xin Jin¹, Qiang Liu², Minyan Dang³, Wenzhi Zhang³, Xia Li⁴

¹General Surgery Department, Ankang Central Hospital, Shaanxi 725000; ²Department of Gastroenterology, Liaocheng Women and Children Health, Shandong Province 252000, China; ³Innoscience Research Sdn Bhd, Suites B-5-7, Skypark@One City, Jalan USJ 25/1, 47650 Subang Jaya, Selangor Malaysia; ⁴Department of Chinese Medicine, Jinan Central Hospital, No. 105, Jie Fang Road, Li Xia District, Jinan, Shandong Province 250013, China.

For correspondence:- Xia Li Email: xli670@yahoo.com

Accepted: 21 August 2019 Published: 01 October 2019

Citation: Jin X, Liu Q, Dang M, Zhang W, Li X. Gastroprotective and ulcer healing properties of ethanol extract of Alpinia conchigera rhizome in experimentally-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Trop J Pharm Res 2019; 18(9):1873-1879 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v18i9.13

© 2019 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the gastroprotective effect of Alpinia conchigera rhizome in an ulcer rat model.

Method: Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with ethanol extract of Alpinia conchigera at doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg body weight. After 28 days, the rats were sacrificed. Ulcer index, total acidity, pH, hemoglobin levels, and hemorrhagic lesions were determined through macroscopic assessment and histopathological examination. The levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), and inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were also determined.

Results: Alpinia conchigera significantly reduced ulcer index, total acidity, pH and hemoglobin levels (p < 0.05). Results from histology revealed that the extract protected the mucosa from lesions. Moreover, the extract significantly enhanced gastric mucosal activities of SOD and CAT, and decreased LPO levels and plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These results validate the traditional claims on the gastroprotective effects of Alpinia conchigera as revealed through its antioxidant and ulcer-healing properties by stimulation of important cellular mechanisms.

Keywords: Alpinia conchigera, Antioxidant enzymes, Gastric ulcer, Inflammatory cytokines