Abstract

Background: Gastric ulcer is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases worldwide. Protection against peptic ulcer disease (PUD) was directed at using many natural products and medicinal plants extracts since it is believed that the natural remedies are giving good healing with little harm. The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible protective effect(s) of the alcoholic extract of Fagonia indica (Zygophyllaceae) in comparison to the documented beneficial effects of natural honey solution in a model of ethanol-induced gastric ulcer.
Methods: Albino rats were used in the study, divided into four groups from which one received only the vehicle (1% CMC) and served as normal control. In the other three groups, fasting animals were subjected to induction of gastric ulcer by single ingestion of 80% ethanol solution, either alone or following oral treatment with either honey solution (150 mg/kg/day) or Fagonia indica extract (20 mg/ kg/day) for two weeks. Macroscopic as well as microscopic examination were carried out and statistical significance between every two groups was checked by students-t test.
Results: These revealed a significant protection of Fagonia indica extract as compared to honey solution evidenced by producing marked lower ulcer index and ulcer score while producing higher preventive index (89% for the plant extract versus 69% for honey solution). On a microscopic level, both honey and Fagonia indica caused magnificent protection of the mucosa against the damage induced by ethanol resulting both in similar degrees of protection.
Conclusion: The wide usage of Fagonia indica extract in folk medicine is therefore encouraged since it is now demonstrated to possess a potent gastroprotective effect against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer. Combination of both the plant extract and honey can be advised since expected to produce more protection.