Gastroprotective effect of swallow root ( Decalepis hamiltonii) extract: Possible involvement of H +–K +–ATPase inhibition and antioxidative mechanism

Abstract

The present study reports the antiulcer potentials of aqueous extract of swallow root ( Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn, SRAE) belonging to the family Asclepiadaceae. Swim stress-induced ulcers with an ulcer index (UI) of 6.0 ± 0.01 was protected up to 43% and 72% at 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. of SRAE, respectively, similar to protection offered by ranitidine (79%) at 30 mg/kg b.w. Depletion in antioxidant enzymes and increased Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) were observed in ulcer-induced rats while SRAE fed rats showed normal levels. SRAE also normalized ∼3.1 and 2.4 folds of increased H +–K +–ATPase and gastric mucin, respectively, in ulcerous animals, similar to the levels found in healthy controls. SRAE also possessed reducing power, free radical scavenging ability with an IC 50 of 0.17 μg/mL gallic acid equivalent (GAE), comparable to that of BHA (IC 50-0.08 μg/mL). DNA protection up to 80% at 0.2 μg was also observed. Toxicity studies indicated no lethal effects in rats fed up to 5 g/kg b.w. Antioxidant, proton pump inhibition as well as boosting of gastric mucin effects of SRAE have been implicated to be responsible for antiulcer property of SRAE.