Gastroprotective effect of Hypericum perforatum extract on indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in rats

Objective. Hypericum perforatum L. (H. perforatum) is a traditional herb used in the treatment of many diseases. H. perforatum extract has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerative and antidepressant effects. Indomethacin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It may cause oxidative damage in stomach tissue. For this purpose, the protective efficacy of H. perforatum extract was investigated in indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer model. Materials and Methods. Sixty Wistar albino male rats were used and the rats were divided into 6 groups as negative control, positive control, H. perforatum, H. perforatum extract + indomethacin 10/25, H. perforatum extract + indomethacin 25/25, H. perforatum extract + indomethacin 50/25. Different doses of H. perforatum extract were administered orally by gavage, and after 5 minutes gastric ulcer was induced with indomethacin (25 mg/kg). After 6 hours, the rats were sacrificed. Ulcer indices were measured for each stomach. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) levels were analyzed in stomach tissue. Results. H. perforatum extract + indomethacin 50/25 increased SOD activity and GSH level and decreased MDA levels in indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer. However, the ulcer index significantly was lower only in the H. perforatum extract given group. Conclusions. This study indicate that H. perforatum extract may have as a potential alternative agent in treating indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer.