Histological Evidences of the Ulcer Healing Properties of Perna viridis Extracts

Ulcer healing properties of Perna viridis

Abstract

Present study evaluates the ulcer healing properties of methanol and aqueous/ethanol (7:3) (Aq/EtOH) extracts of the Indian green mussel Perna viridis, against ethanol induced gastric ulcer model in rats. A preliminary chemical analysis for alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, saponins, anthraquinones and sterols of both extracts were carried out using general detection reagents. In vitro antioxidant activities were evaluated by Phosphomolybdenum method and ABTS radical scavenging assay. For ulcer induction, the rats were administered with 80% ethanol after 36 hours of food deprivation. Methanol and aqueous/ethanol extracts of P. viridis were given orally once, (100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) 1h prior to the ethanol challenge and Ranitidine (50mg/kg body weight) was given as the reference drug. After sacrificing the animals, stomach was cut open and the tissue of each group was processed for histopathological studies. Pretreatment with both the extracts reduced the depth and severity of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions effectively as evidenced by the histopathological evaluation. The healing property of P. viridis extracts on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer, could be attributed to their antioxidant properties and the presence of polyphenols and saponins.