Gastroprotective activity of Cinnamomum tamala leaves on experimental gastric ulcers in rats

Cinnamomum tamala T. Nees & Eberm (Family Lauraceae) is used traditionally in Indian System of Medicine as carminative, anthelmintic, diuretic, and used in colic, dyspepsia, and diarrhea.

This study was aimed to evaluate the gastroprotective effects of Cinnamomum tamala leaves.

Cinnamomum tamala leaves extract (CTE; 50,100 and 200mg/kg body weight) was administered orally, twice daily for 5 days for prevention from ethanol (EtOH)-, cold-restraint stress (CRS)- and pylorus ligation (PL)-induced ulcers. Estimation of H(+)K(+)ATPase activity and gastric wall mucous were performed in EtOH-induced ulcer model, antioxidant enzyme activities was carried out in CRS-induced ulcer model, and various gastric secretion parameters like volume of gastric juice, acid output, and pH value were estimated in PL-induced ulcer model.

A significant reduction in lesion index was observed in ulcer-induced animals treated with CTE at different doses when compared with ulcerated rats in all models. A significant decrease occurred in the level of H(+)K(+)ATPase, volume of gastric juice, and acid output. Simultaneously the level of gastric wall mucus and pH were increased significantly. These showed dose-dependent action of CTE. The antioxidant enzyme levels of LPO and SOD were decreased while administering CTE at different doses, compared with their control values. Contrary to this the level of CAT enzyme showed significant increase.

The results of our study showed that Cinnamomum tamala possess significant gastroprotective activity, probably due to its free radical scavenging activity.