Effect of Teucrium stocksianum on Gastric Ulceration and Secretion in Rats

Teucrium stocksianum Boiss. (Lamiaceae), a perennial herb, was investigated for its effect on gastric mucosa against injuries caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) indomethacin and phenylbutazone, hypothermic-restraint stress, necrotizing agents (0.2M NaOH, 80% ethanol v/v) and pylorus ligation. The extract was administered by gastric intubation at doses of 200 and 400mg/kg body weight to rats and compared with control groups. Experiments were also carried out to examine the possible mechanism(s) of action involved in gastric mucosal protection, following the T. stocksianum extract. Our results showed that the extract of T. stocksianum, at doses of 200 and 400mg/kg body weight, provided a significant inhibition of gastric mucosal damage induced by NSAIDs, hypothermic-restraint stress and pylorus ligated rats. However, no change was observed in the gastric acidity. T. stocksianum was also studied in indomethacin pretreated rats to evaluate the involvement of prostaglandins in the cytoprotection. It was found that the indomethacin attenuated the cytoprotection effects of T. stocksianum. The plant extract significantly prevented the depletion of gastric wall mucus in hypothermic restraint animals. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that an alcoholic extract of T. stocksianum possesses both antiulcerogenic and cytoprotective effects on various experimentally-induced gastric lesions. Although the exact mechanism of action of the antigastric ulcer mechanism is not clear from the present study, the role of prostaglandins and gastric surface mucus, in gastro protective effects of T. stocksianum, can not be ruled out.