Background: Alhagi camelorum belongs to the family Leguminosae is used in Iranian folk medicine to treat gastric disturbances. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the Alhagi camelorum aqueous extract for anti-ulcer activity in rat.
Methods: male Wistar rats were pretreated with the Alhagi camelorum aqueous extract (150, 300 and 450 mg/kg, P.O.) before induction of gastric ulcer by water immersion restraint-stress (5 h, water immersion restraint stress at (20-22oC) or ethanol (100%; 1ml/200g of B.W, P.O.). Negative control animals received saline (0.5 ml/100 g of B.W) and positive control animals received ranitidine (60 mg/kg, P.O.).
Results: The Alhagi camelorum aqueous extract protected rats against water immersion restraint-stress and ethanol-induced ulcers in a dose-dependent manner. In water immersion restraint induced ulcerated rat, the AME increased pH and reduced gastric acid content. AME did not show any signs of toxicity and mortality up to 10g/kg, P.O. in mice.
Conclusion: The results suggest that Alhagi camelorum aqueous extract has significant mucosal protective and antisecretory effects.