Pharmacological effects of extracts from medicinal plants"Olea Europea, Myristica Fragrans and ammi visnaga: on volume and acidity of stimulated gastric secretion, liver and kidney functions.

Abstract

Increased production of hydrochloric acid by the gastric parietal cells is an independent and main factor for peptic ulcer. If ulcer is not prevented by proper treatment, it may lead to perforation and dangerous complications. Nowadays peptic ulcer is the common ailment, a physician comes across. The available drugs for peptic ulcer are very costly and have many adverse effects. As calcium ions play an important role in gastric acid secretion therefore, the present study was designed to choose those local, cheap and easily available medicinal plants that contain documented calcium channel blockers. For this purpose extracts of three medicinal plants Olea europea, Myristica fragrans and Ammi visnaga were used. Their effects were observed on the volume and acidity of gastric secretion and were also compared with those of synthetic calcium channel blocker Verapamil and standard anti ulcer drug cimetidine, on the same parameters. For this study two hundred forty rabbits were divided into twenty four groups of ten anim als each. The first thirteen groups were used for low dose studies and are referred to as Category A. The second groups from fourteen to twenty four were used for high dose studies and are referred to as Category B. The last three groups in each category were tested for liver & kidney functions. The gastric contents were tested for volume and acidity. The data thus obtained was analyzed statistically. It was observed that all the extracts reduced the volume and acidity significantly and the mean values were near to calcium channel blocker verapamil and the standard anti ulcer drug cimetidine. Combinations of two extracts were more effective than cimetidine and verapamil. It was also observed that after 45 days treatment with low and high doses in the last three groups of each category, there was no significant change in the mean values of kidney and liver functions. It indicated that the extracts can be safely used. It is concluded that these extracts can effectively decrease gastric acid secretion and can even be safely used by way of crude extracts which is cost effective for poor masses. The possibility of these extracts being used in future for other such diseases where calcium channel blockers are being used.