Abstract
This study evaluated anti-gastric ulcer and anti-secretory effects of folkloric medicinal plant, Foeniculum vulgare L., (Family:Apiaceae) in rats. The gastric ulcer protective potential of an aqueous suspension of 'Fennel' Foeniculum vulgare (FVS) was evaluated against different acute gastric ulcer models in rats induced by pyloric ligation (Shay), hypothermic restraint stress, indomethacin and by necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCl). Fennel suspension, 250 and 500 mg kg(-1) b.wt. administered orally (intraperitoneally in Shay rat model) showed a dose-dependent ulcer protective effects in all the above models. Besides, the FVS offered protection against ethanol-induced depletion of Gastric Wall Mucus (GWM); replenished the reduced nonprotein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) concentration and modulated malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the gastric tissue. Ethanol induced histopathological lesions of the stomach wall characterized by mucosal hemorrhages and edema that was reversed by FVS. Pretreatment of rats with FVS provided significant protection of gastric mucosa through its antioxidant capacity and/or by attenuating the offensive and by enhancing the defensive factor.