Original article
English
W. Elbisht
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Elfateh University, Tripoli, Libya
JMJ Vol.3 No.1 (March) 2004: 73-75
Abstract
In a previous study, we demonstrated a significant anti-ulcer activity for the aqueous extracts of Punica granatum Linn rind (P. granatum) and Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds (T. foenum-graecum) against stress-induced or aspirin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. The present study aimed at investigating the possible mechanism(s) of the anti-ulcer activity of each plant, such as stimulation of prostaglandins (PGs) or nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. This was established by investigating the effect of the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor flurbiprofen or the NO synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester ( L-NAME) on the anti-ulcer effect of repeated doses of P. granatum or T. foenum-graecum on stress-induced or aspirin-induced gastric ulcer. Pre-treatment of rats with either flurbiprofen or L-NAME did not cause any significant change in the anti-ulcer effect of P. granatum. Similarly, pre-treatment of rats with flurbiprofen had no effect on the anti-ulcer activity of T. foenum-graecum. In contrast, pre-treatment with L-NAME resulted in a marked reduction in the anti-ulcer effect of T. foenum-graecum. These results suggest that the anti-ulcer effect of P. granatum does not involve stimulation of either PGs or NO synthesis, whereas the anti-ulcer effect of T. foenum-graecum appears to involve stimulation of NO, but not PGs, synthesis.
Keywords: anti-ulcer activity, Punica Granatum Linn Rind Seeds, Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Seeds
Link/DOI: http://www.jmj.org.ly/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1309