Abstract
Despite the manifold health benefits of Andrographis paniculata, less information available on its anti-ulcer potential. This study reports an evaluation of in vivo anti-ulcerogenic and anti-oxidant potential of aqueous extract of A. paniculata (APA) in experimental gastric ulcer rats. Male Wistar rats pretreated with (500 and 1000 mg/kg bw) of APA were separately exposed to ethanol (EtOH) (80%), saline (NaCl) (25%) and indomethacin (IM) (30 mg/kg bw). The effects of APA on gastric tissues were analyzed in terms of ulcer score (US), malondialdehyde (MDA), total proteins, non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) estimation and histological changes. Oral administration of APA both at its lower (500 mg/kg bw) and higher (1000 mg/kg bw) doses significantly ameliorated the concentration of MDA, total proteins and NP-SH in EtOH, IM and NaCl-induced ulcers. Ulcers in EtOH and NaCl treated groups were significantly reduced to 1.8 and 4.1-fold after APA (1000 mg/kg bw) pretreatment. Histological analysis reaffirmed the protective effect of APA by showing mild congestion and mucosa damage in APA pretreated rats, as compared to severe tissue damages in three ulcer models. The protective effect of APA on EtOH and NaCl induced ulcer was probably due to modulation of antioxidant activity. This might be due to the presence of flavonoids, diterpine and andrographolides in APA.