Evaluation of antioxidant and antiulcer effects of various Scruphularia striata extracts on gastric ulcer in rats

Scruphularia striata is used in folk medicine for treatment of many diseases. However, its impact on gastric ulcer has not yet been elucidated completely. Thus the current study investigated the effect of various extracts of S. striata in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. 100 male rats were randomly separated into 10 groups (n=10). Groups 1 and 2 received no treatment. Group 3 received 20 mg/kg omeprazole. Groups 4-9 were given aqueous, hydroalcoholic and etheric extracts at 100 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Group 10 received DMSO as solvent solution. After 1 h, 4 ml/kg 75%EtOH solution was given orally to groups 2-10 to induce ulceration. The rats were sacrificed after one hour; the gastric mucosal injuries were estimated through assessment of histopathology and parameters including TAC and HSP70 in the gastric tissue homogenate. Histopathological features showed the antiul­cerogenic characterizations of the extracts and marked reduction of mucosal necrosis, edema and leukocytes infiltration. A significant increase in the levels of HSP70 and TAC was observed in the rats treated with etheric and especially aqueous extracts. These findings suggest gastroprotective and antioxidative potentials of this species partly explained through mucosal defense mechanisms possibly related to increased HSP70 level and prevention of consumption of antioxidant sources.