Gastric Anti-Ulcer and cytoprotective effects of Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba (Guar) in rats

Abstract

An ethanol extract of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar) has been studied for its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and to protect gastric mucosa against the injury caused by pylorus ligation, hypothermic restraint stress, indomethacin, and various necrotizing agents including 80% ethanol, 0.2 M NaOH and 2 5% NaCl in rats. An oral dose of 500 mg/kg of the extract produced inhibition of normal gastric secretion in rats. The extract inhibited acetylcholine-induced contractions of isolated guinea pig ileum, suggesting anti-cholinergic activity. The intensity of gastric lesions induced by hypothermic restraint stress and indomethacin was reduced significantly by Guar extract. It produced a marked cytoprotective effect against all the necrotizing agents used in this study. The extract not only increased the gastric wall mucus significantly but also restored the ethanol-induced depletion of nonprotein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) content in the glandular stomachs of rats.