Experimental evaluation of Emblica officinalis fruit on gastric ulcers and mucosal offensive and defensive factors in rats

Abstract

Emblica officinalis Gaertn has been mentioned in the Ayurveda as a Maharasayana. The rasayanas are drugs which enhance body resistance and are similar to adaptogens in modern medicine and are advocated for use in rejuvenation therapy. Emblica officinalis is reported to protect the individual against biological, physical and chemical stress manifestations. Stress is considered to be one of the important aetiopathogenic factors for peptic ulceration and hence juice of fresh fruits of Emblica officinalis Gaertn (EOJ) was evaluated for its anti-ulcerogenic effect against various rat gastric ulcers induced by cold restraint stress, pylorus ligation, ethanol and aspirin. A preliminary study done with fresh EOJ (240, 480 or 960 mg.kg-1) administered perorally, twice daily for five days, showed a dose-dependent anti-ulcerogenic effect. A dose of 480 mg.kg-1 was then selected for studying the mechanism of anti-ulcer effect on aggressive acid-pepsin secretion and defensive mucosal factors like mucin secretion, cell shedding and mucosal glycoproteins content in 4th pylorus ligated rats. EOJ showed a decrease in aggressive acid-pepsin concentration and output and increased the defensive mucin secretion and glycoprotein content. It decreased cell shedding indicating a decrease in exfoliation and an increase in life span of cells. Hence anti-ulcerogenic effect of EOJ could be due to its effects both on offensive and defensive mucosal factors.