Effect of feeding by three formulas of herbs and vegetables on the healing of gastric ulcer in male rats

ABSTRACT

The present article was carried out to investigate the effect of feeding by 3 formulas consisting of three herbs [licorice, thyme and chamomile]; two vegetables [cabbage and artichoke] and a combination of both on the healing of gastric ulcer induced with aspirin in male rats. The obtained results revealed that feeding rats with induced gastric ulcer on herbal or vegetable dried powdered formula or a combination both at 2% for 2 weeks caused significant decreases in the gastric ulcer index, volume and total acidity of gastric juice. The curative ratios from gastric ulcer due to feeding by herbal formula or vegetable formula or both were 43.0 or 22.1 or 57.7%, respectively. The corresponding ratios of the decrease in volume of gastric juice were 27.73 or 39.07 or 39.84%, and in total acidity of gastric juice were 37.07 or 37.09 or 54.83%, respectively. Feeding of these rats on herbal formula or vegetable formula or both of them did not significantly affect the body weight. Histopathological examination of stomachs of rats fed on the above mentioned formulations showed alleviation of gastric mucosal damage and ulceration induced by aspirin. Combination of both herbal formula and vegetable formula showed higher anti-ulcer activity than either of them alone. It can be concluded that feeding diet mixed with a formula consisting of licorice, thyme, chamomile, cabbage and artichoke at 2% to rats with aspirin induced gastric ulcer for 2 weeks produced a marked anti-ulcer effect. This study recommends conducting the experiment on patients suffering from gastric ulcer