Effect of Piper longum Linn, Zingiber officianalis Linn and Ferula species on gastric ulceration and secretion in rats.

Use of Dipaniya Mahakasaya, a group consisting of 10 herbal drugs, has been suggested in Charaka Samhita to improve digestion. Out of these 10 plants, three, viz. P. longum (water decoction), Z. officianalis (water decoction) and Ferula species (colloidal solution) were studied for their antiulcer and mechanism of antiulcer effects in rats. All the drugs in the dose of 50 mg/kg, p.o., 60 min prior to experiment, showed significant protection against gastric ulcers induced by 2 hr cold restraint stress, aspirin (200 mg/kg, 4 hr) and 4 hr pylorus ligation. The antiulcerogenic effect seemed to be due to the augmentation of mucin secretion and decreased cell shedding rather than offensive acid and pepsin secretion which however, were found to be increased by them.

Effect of some Sitavirya drugs on gastric secretion and ulceration.

Four Sitavirya plants viz. Satavari (fresh root juice, 1250 mg/kg), Yastimadhu (water decoction of root, 600 mg/kg), Kutaja and Aswattha (water decoctions of bark; 400 and 500 mg/kg respectively) were studied for their effects on different models of gastroduodenal ulcers in rats, when given orally for 3 days. All of them were found to protect the animals against 2 hr cold restraint stress and pylorus ligation-induced gastric and cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers. However, they were ineffective against acute aspirin-induced gastric ulcers. The antiulcerogenic effect could be due to their inhibitory effect on offensive acid-pepsin secretion and augmentation of mucosal defensive factors in terms of enhanced mucin secretion and decreased cell shedding.

Pharmacological actions of Pongamia pinnata seeds--a preliminary study.

Direct ethanolic and sequential petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone and ethanolic extracts (50-100 mg/kg, i.p.) of P. pinnata seeds given 30-60 min before revealed anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-ulcerogenic activities in rats. The activities were present maximum in petroleum ether and chloroform extracts. However, the extracts also showed shortening of pentobarbitone induced 'sleep time' in rats.

Comparative fermentation behaviour and chemical characteristics of Saccharomyces and Zymomonas fermented culled apple juice.

Ethanol production from culled apple juice showed that fermentability of the juice could be enhanced by addition of DAHP or ammonium sulphate in Saccharomyces and DAHP in Zymomonas fermentation. Addition of trace elements inhibited both the fermentations and ethanol, consequently. With respect to by-products of fermentation, no clear advantage of Zymomnas fermentation of culled apple juice could be observed. Differences in physico-chemical characteristics of the fermented apple juice were also noted. Saccharomyces cerevisiae proved to be better than Zymomonas in most of the parameters and is preferrable from handling and spoilage point of view.