A Protective Effect for Panax ginseng in the Rat Stomach

  • Omar M.E.Abdel Salam (Department of Pharmacology, National Research Centre) ;
  • Batran, Seham-El (Department of Pharmacology, National Research Centre) ;
  • Shenawy, Siham-El (Department of Pharmacology, National Research Centre) ;
  • Mahmoud S.Arbid (Department of Pharmacology, National Research Centre)
  • Published : 2001.12.01

Abstract

The effect of ginseng on gastric ulcer and gastric acid secretion was investigated in pylorus-ligated rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley strain rats were used after 24 hours fast. Pylorus-ligation was performed under light ether anaesthesia, then gastric mucosal damage was evoked in conscious pylorus-ligated rats by the administration of subcutaneous (s.c.) indomethancin (20mg/kg), s.c. histamine (150mg/kg) or by pylorus-ligation (Shay ulcer). Ginseng was given by intragastric (i.g.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) route simultaneously with the ulcerogens. Rats were killed after 3h (indomethacin) and histamine models) or after 18h (Shay ulcer), when the gastric secretory responses, the number and severity of gastric mucosal lesions and mucosal mucus content deetermined. the effect of i.p. ginseng on basal gastric acid secretion and on gastric acide secretion in indomethacin (20mg/kg, s.c.)-treated rats was also investigated in urethane anesthetized rats. Gastric acid secretion was measured by flushing of the gastric lumen with saline every 15min through an oesophageal cannula. Results: In conscious pylorus-ligated rats, i.g. ginseng(12.5-50mg/$m\ell$; 50-200mg/kg) protected against gastric mucosal lesions evoked by s.c. indomethacin or s.c. histanmine in the d3-h pylorus-lighted rat, withoutmodifying gastric acid secretory responses. Ginseng given i.p. (150 or 200mg/kg) did not reduce the gastric lesions produced by histamine or by ligating the pylorus (Shay ulcer) Ginseng given orally in 50mg/$m\ell$ (200mg/kg) increased gastric mucus secretion in saline- and indomethacin-treated conscious pylorus-ligated rats. In anaesthetized rats ginseng (50 or 200mg/kg) did not modify basal gastric acid secretion or gastric acid secretion in the indomethacin-treated rats. Conclusions: ginseng given orally exerts gastroprotective effects in the rat stomach. Such anti-ulcer effect does not involve changes in gastric acid secretory responses. In addition, ginseng possesses stimulatory effect on gastric mucus secretion, which could be one mechanism by which the compound exerts its antiulcer effect. Our data are in favor for a beneficial effect for topically applied ginseng on the gastric mucosa.

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