The effects of aqueous extracts of Lippia citriodora, Trachyspermum copticum, Dracocepalum polychaetum on repair of ethanol induced gastric ulcer in rats

To evaluate the effects of Lippia citriodora, Trachyspermum copticum, and Dracocepalum polychaetum on healing of gastric ulcer induced by ethanol, 25 male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into five groups (five rats in each group). After 24-h starvation, all animals received oral ethanol (1 mL/200 g body weight). Three groups received 2 mL (100 mg/kg/day) of L. citriodora (LC group), D. polychaetum (DP group), and T. copticum (TC group) aqueous extracts; one group (RA) received ranitidine (200 mg/kg/day); and one group (control) received 2 mL distilled water saline by gastric gavage for four consecutive days. On the fourth day, macroscopic evaluation of gastric mucosa revealed significantly higher healing rate in DP and TC groups than in control group (p = 0.048 and p = 0.044, respectively). The ulcer severity in LC and TC groups was also significantly less than in control group (p = 0.018 and p = 0.005, respectively). The lower gastric ulcer score in DP group in comparison with control group was also marginally significant (p = 0.08). Histopathologic evaluation showed sloughing of gastric mucosa and various sizes of erosions and ulcers besides hyperemia, hemorrhage, and infiltration of inflammatory cells in control group. The highest curative effect was observed in TC group, in which the gastric mucosa obtained almost normal thickness and there were only a few superficial erosions. In LC and DP groups, hyperemia and hemorrhage decreased markedly and only a few gastric ulcers were present in some rats. Administration of ranitidine reduced the gastric damages compared to the control group; however, less effectiveness was evident in comparison with the plant extract treated groups. The aqueous extracts of L. citriodora, D. polychaetum, and T. copticum showed healing activity, and their administration as herbal tea can be recommended as an easy and available method for treatment of gastric ulcers.