ABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken to determine the anti-ulcer and antioxidant potential of GutGardTM, a standardized extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra commonly known as licorice. Effect of various doses (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg, po) of GutGardTM was studied on gastric ulcers in pylorus ligation-, cold-restraint stress- and indomethacin induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. Anti-ulcer activity was evaluated by measuring the ulcer index, gastric content, total acidity, and pH of gastric fluid. GutGardTM dose dependently decreased gastric content, total acidity, ulcer index and increased pH of gastric fluid in pylorus ligation ulcer model. In cold-restraint stress- and indomethacin induced ulcer models all the doses of GutGardTM decreased the ulcer index and increased the pH of gastric fluid. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. GutGardTM exhibited potent antioxidant activity with high hydrophilic and lipophilic ORAC value. GutGardTM possessed anti-ulcerogenic properties that might be afforded via cytoprotective mechanism by virtue of its antioxidant properties. These results supported the ethnomedical uses of licorice in the treatment of gastric ulcer.