Protective Effect of Cedrus Deodara and Pinus Roxburghii on Experimentally Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rat

Objective: To evaluate the antiulcer activity of chloroform extract of Cedrus deodara and Pinus roxburghii wood (Cd C and Pr C, respectively). Methods: Cd C and Pr C at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg were given orally to fasted rats and ulcers were induced by pyloric ligation and ethanol. Number of ulcer, ulcer score, ulcer index, percentage ulcer inhibition and tissue histology were measured in both the models. The effect on volume of gastric secretion, pH, total acidity and free acidity were evaluated in the pyloric ligation model. Results: Cd C (50, 100 mg/kg) and Pr C (50, 100 mg/kg) extracts were able to protect gastric mucosa against pyloric ligation and ethanol. In case of pyloric ligation model respective inhibition produced were 24.18, 60.44, 10.98 and 25.27%, and in case of ethanol model inhibition were 30.00, 56.36, 20.91 and 29.09%. Like famotidine, Cd C 100 significantly decreased the gastric content (2.40 ± 0.313 to 2.09 ± 0.095 ml), total acidity (473.85 ± 25.774 to 246.04 ± 32.602 meq./l) and free acidity (357.21 ± 30.496 to 182.25 ± 25.774 meq./l) and increase the pH of gastric content (2.99 ± 0.097 to 3.68 ± 0.221) in pyloric ligation model. The protective effect of this extract was associated with marked reduction in gastric hemorrhage and maintenance of tissue integrity. Conclusion: The present investigation provides the rationale for the use of Cedrus deodara in the management of peptic ulcer.