ANDROGRAPHOLIDE PREVENTS DRUG AND STRESS INDUCED ULCER IN RATS

Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.)Wall.ex Nees (Acanthacea) has been used traditionally for the treatment of gastrointestinal complications. Andrographolide, a chief compound present in the leaves has been shown responsible for the therapeutic potential of the plant. The present study investigated the gastroprotective effect of andrographolide (AGL) against aspirin (ASA) and cold restraint stress (CRS) induced experimental ulcer in rats. Male albino Wistar rats were administered orally with AGL (3 mg/kg b.wt.) 30 days prior to ulcer induction by ASA and CRS models. pH, gastric fluid volume, titrable acidity, pepsin, myeloperoxidase and H(+)K(+)ATPase activity, mucin, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), 4-hydroxy nonenal, GSH/GSSG ratio, antioxidant enzyme activities and prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) were investigated. AGL pretreatment significantly decreased the acidity and pepsin concentration in ulcer induced rats. The alterations induced in the activity of myeloperoxidase and H+K+ ATPase were minimized in AGL pre-administered rats. Mucin, thiol content, PGE(2) and enzymatic antioxidants levels were maintained whereas TBARS (1.48 +/- 0.18, 2.25 +/- 0.25 nmol/mg protein) level was reduced due to AGL treatment. The results suggest that AGL can prevents drugs such as aspirin and stress induced ulcer. The ulcer preventive effect may probably by maintaining gastric defensive factors such as thiol groups, mucin and PGE(2).