Hypericum perforatum extracts healed gastric lesions induced by hypothermic restraint stress in Wistar rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the healing effects of Hypericum perforatum (HP) on gastric mucosal damage induced by hypothermic restraint stress (HRS.

METHODS: Sixty Wistar breed rats of 200-250 gm were used in this study carried out at the Biology Department of Dumlupinar University, Kutahya, Turkey in 2006. The animals were divided into 6 groups, 2 of which were controls. The HRS were induced by strapping the rats on a wooden plank and keeping them for 3 hours at 4 degrees Celsius after a starvation period of 36 hours. After HRS, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day Hypericum perforatum extracts (HPEs) were orally administrated to the 3 groups during the 3-day treatment. Fifty mg/kg ranitidine was administered everyday as subcutaneous injection to a group selected as a positive control. At the end of treatment, lesions in the stomach were evaluated macroscopically and microscopically.

RESULTS: Macroscopic analyses showed that treatment with HPEs 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day significantly healed lesions compared to control groups by 65, 95, and 75% (p=0.001). Treatment with ranitidine also healed ulcers significantly compared with the control groups. Histopathologic analyses indicated that 50 mg/kg/day HP produced the most significant effect.

CONCLUSION: Moderate doses of HP produced significant healing of HRS induced gastric ulcer in rats. The present study indicated that HPEs have therapeutic potential for the control of ulcers. Moderate doses of HP produced significant healing of HRS induced gastric ulcer in rats. The present study indicated that HPEs have therapeutic potential for the control of ulcers.