Comparative assessment of anti-ulcer effects: Hydro-ethanolic extract from air-dried ray and disc florets vs essential oil of traditional Tagetes erecta (Asteraceae) in Swiss Albino rats

Abstract

The Tagetes erecta Linn (family: Asteraceae) herb possesses medicinal and antioxidants value. The herb is traditionally used to treat various ailments, including ulcers. In order to investigate antiulcer activity of T. erecta herb, experimental study was performed between ray and disc florets extracted with 30 parts of water and 70 parts of ethanol solvents using Soxhlet apparatus and leaf's essential oil extracted in Clevenger apparatus by steam distillation method. Two doses of the hydroethanolic extract (400 and 800 mg/kg, Per os) and single dose of essential oil (10 ml/Kg, Per os) were administered for five consecutive days. Rat's pyloric ligation and aspirin (200 mg/kg, Per os) were used to induce acute and chronic gastric ulcers respectively. Antiulcer activity of both the herb's parts was compared on gastric juice parameters (pH, free acidity, total acidity) ulcer-index and ulcer percent protection. The p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant in statistical analysis. Elevation in pH, reduction in free acidity, total acidity and ulcer-index in both the ulcer models confirm that the test drug showed the ulcer-protective activity in rats. Dose-dependent effects were observed in the antiulcer activity of the hydroethanolic extract. However, the leaf's essential oil showed 94 % and 96.93 % ulcer protection in the pyloric ligation and aspirin-induced gastric ulcer models respectively. The hydroethanolic extract and the essential oil may be capable in part, regulating gastric acid secretion pathways or stimulating the cytoprotective secretion of bicarbonate, mucus and prostaglandins. Histological studies supported the observed antiulcer activity of the herb. The essential oil has more potent and significant anti-ulcer activity than hydro-ethanolic extract and respective standard drugs: ranitidine (50 mg/kg, Per os) & pantoprazole (20 mg/kg, Per os). The herb exhibits antiulcer activity, which could be due to the presence of lead phytochemicals: Quercetin-3-methyl ether, quercetin-7-methyl-ether & kaempferol flavonoids in the extract and limonene & terpinolene in leaf's essential oil and, thus, confirmed the traditional uses of T. erecta in the treatment of ulcers. The herb may cure acid pepsin disorders.