Abstract
Plant extracts are the most attractive sources of newer drugs and have been shown to produce promising results for the treatment of gastric ulcers. Karanjin, a furano-flavonoid has been evaluated for anti-ulcerogenic property by employing adult male albino rats. Karanjin (>95% pure) was administered to these rats in two different concentrations, that is, 10 and 20 mg kg−1 b.w. Ulcers were induced in the experimental animals by swim and ethanol stress. Serum, stomach and liver-tissue homogenates were assessed for biochemical parameters. Karanjin inhibited 50 and 74% of ulcers induced by swim stress at 10 and 20 mg kg−1 b.w., respectively. Gastric mucin was protected up to 85% in case of swim stress, whereas only 47% mucin recovery was seen in ethanol stress induced ulcers. H+, K+-ATPase activity, which was increased 2-fold in ulcer conditions, was normalized by Karanjin in both swim/ethanol stress-induced ulcer models. Karanjin could inhibit oxidative stress as evidenced by the normalization of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme (i.e., catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) levels. Karanjin at concentrations of 20 mg kg−1 b.w., when administered orally for 14 days, did not indicate any lethal effects. There were no significant differences in total protein, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and alkaline phosphatase between normal and Karanjin-treated rats indicating no adverse effect on major organs. During treatment schedule, animals remained as healthy as control animals with normal food and water intake and body weight gain.
Highlights
Gastric hyperacidity and gastroduodenal ulcer are common global problems and are caused by a lack of equilibrium between the gastric aggressive and the mucosal defensive factors [1]
Despite the progress in ulcer therapy from vagotomy to anti-cholinergic drugs, histamine H2 antagonists, antacids, proton-pump inhibitors, and so forth, [4] in recent years growing interest has been toward the utilization of natural products, especially those derived from plant foods [5] and plant parts [6, 7], which are often designated as complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), as nutraceutical [8] and herbal medicines [9], respectively
Parametric values, showed slight variation as indicated by P-values; the values are within the reference range as per the range of values provided by the National Institute of Nutrition Manual [34] indicting no adverse effect on major organs at the ingested concentrations
Summary
Gastric hyperacidity and gastroduodenal ulcer are common global problems and are caused by a lack of equilibrium between the gastric aggressive and the mucosal defensive factors [1]. We explored the anti-ulcerative property of Karanjin, a furano-flavonoid isolated from karanja seeds. The study has been undertaken in the light of the previous observations [18], which have reported an anti-ulcer property in crude extracts of karanja, which potentially contain karanjin. We investigated the anti-ulcerative property of karanjin, isolated from karanja seeds. Proof of this bioactivity would envisage the dual activity of exploring karanjin isolation for medicinal purposes in addition to the extraction of karanja oil, currently being used for leather softening and in ayurvedic preparations because of its pharmacological values. This article highlights the anti-ulcer potential of karanjin in both in vitro and in vivo models
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