Effect of Trianthema triquetra Rottl. ex Willed (Aizoaceae) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in experimental rats

Trianthema triquetra Rottl. Ex.Willed (T. triquetra) is a medicinal plant that belongs to the family Aizoaceae. The plant has been used traditionally as fodder, as a remedy for chronic ulcer, fever, and healing wounds. Therefore, the present study was intended to investigate the anti-ulcer ability of different fractions of T. triquetra to verify its folklore use in ulcer cure. Acute oral toxicity of all the fractions of T. triquetra was evaluated at a dose of 2g/kg b.wt. Anti-ulcer potential of nbutanol (TTB), chloroform (TTC), ethyl acetate (TTEA) and aqueous (TTA) fraction of crude methanolic extract of T. triquetra was assessed by using ethanol- induced gastric ulcer model in rats. Omeprazole at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.wt. was used as standard drug. After 1 hour of administration of all the fractions of T. triquetra, at a dosage of 300mg/kg b.wt., the gastric ulcer was induced in all animals by administering absolute ethanol (1mL/animal) orally except normal control group. After an hour, all the rats were sacrificed. Ulcer index, % age of ulcer inhibition, gastric pH, gastric volume, total acidity, gastric wall protein, gastric wall mucus and histopathology of the stomach wall of rats were assessed. All fractions of T. triquetra showed a substantial decrease in ulcer index and improvement in percentage inhibition compared to the disease control group. There was a rise in the amount of gastric wall mucus content, total protein content, gastric pH and a decrease in gastric volume and total acidity. Histopathological studies showed severe mucosal injury, leucocyte infiltration and edema in the disease control group compared to omeprazole and plant fractions treated animal groups. The present work encourages the conventional use of T. triquetra in the cure of ulcers.