Original Articles
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 28, 2009; 15(16): 1958-1965
Published online Apr 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1958
Rocket “Eruca sativa”: A salad herb with potential gastric anti-ulcer activity
Saleh Alqasoumi, Mohammed Al-Sohaibani, Tawfeq Al-Howiriny, Mohammed Al-Yahya, Syed Rafatullah
Saleh Alqasoumi, Tawfeq Al-Howiriny, Mohammed Al-Yahya, Syed Rafatullah, Department of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal, Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center, College of Pharmacy, PO Box 2457, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Al-Sohaibani, Department of Pathology (32), PO Box 2925, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
Author contributions: Alqasoumi S designed and performed some experiments, and collected the material; Al-Howiriny T and Al-Yahya M provided vital reagents and are responsible for the preliminary phytochemical screening and extraction of the plant material; Rafatullah S contributed in performing some of the experiments and wrote the manuscript; Al-Sohaibani M carried out the histopathology.
Correspondence to: Dr. Syed Rafatullah, MD (Unani), MF Hom, Medicinal, Aromatic and Poisonous Plants Research Center (MAPPRC), College of Pharmacy, PO Box 2457, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia. srafat@ksu.edu.sa
Telephone: +966-1-4677207
Fax: +966-1-4677245
Received: January 27, 2009
Revised: March 18, 2009
Accepted: March 25, 2009
Published online: April 28, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To validate gastric anti-ulcer properties of Rocket “Eruca sativa” on experimentally-induced gastric secretion and ulceration in albino rats.

METHODS: Gastric acid secretion studies were undertaken using pylorus-ligated rats. Gastric lesions in the rats were induced by noxious chemicals including ethanol, strong alkalis, indomethacin and hypothermic restraint stress. The levels of gastric wall mucus (GWM), nonprotein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured in the glandular stomach of rats following ethanol administration. The gastric tissue was also examined histologically. The extract was used in two doses (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) in all experiments.

RESULTS: In pylorus-ligated Shay rats, the ethanolic extract of Rocket “Eruca sativa L.” (EER) significantly and dose-dependently reduced the basal gastric acid secretion, titratable acidity and ruminal ulceration. Rocket extract significantly attenuated gastric ulceration induced by necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 mol/L NaOH, 25% NaCl), indomethacin and hypothermic restraint stress. The anti-ulcer effect was further confirmed histologically. On the other hand, the extract significantly replenished GWM and NP-SH levels, as well as the MDA level significantly reduced by extract pretreatment.

CONCLUSION: Rocket extract possesses anti-secretory, cytoprotective, and anti-ulcer activities against experimentally-induced gastric lesions. The anti-ulcer effect is possibly through prostaglandin-mediated activity and/or through its anti-secretory and antioxidant properties.

Keywords: Cytoprotection; Eruca sativa; Gastric ulcer and secretion; Malondialdehyde; Rocket; Sulfhydryls