Influence of Aqueous Extract of Red Chillis Pepper as Curative for Gastric Ulcer in Albino Rats

The present study was carried out elucidate the effect of aqueous extracts of red chillis pepper (Capsicum frutescence) at three doses on the length of gastric ulcer induced by aspirin in rats. Thirty adult male albino rats (Sprague Dawley Strain) weight 175±5g were used and divided into 5 groups, each of 6 rats. The first group was used as a control negative (-ve) and fed on the basal ration only, other groups had given aspirin orally (200 mg/kg B.Wt.), one of these groups left as control +ve (ulcerated rats) and other groups administrated with aqueous extract of red chillis pepper (RCP) at doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg B.Wt. for seven days. The length of gastric ulcer, volume of gastric juice, pH value and histopathological changes of gastric were examined. The results revealed that oral administration of RCP extract at 250, 500 and 750mg/kg B.Wt. reduced the length of gastric ulcer. On the other hand, all extracts increased pH value of gastric juice compared to control (-ve) group, meanwhile the volume of gastric juice decreased by plant extracts specially for rats feed on RCP at dose 750 mg\Kg B.Wt. Oral administration of water plant extracts decreased histopathological changes in the stomach layers and mucosa. The present study suggests that, Capsicum frutescence could be used for healing acute gastric ulcer disease and implemented for gastric ulcer patients. Key words: aqueous extracts, Capsicum frutecens, aspirin ulcer, stomach, histopathological changes, pH value and gastric juice

The hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities of garden cress (<i>Lepidium sativum</i> L.) seed on alloxan-induced diabetic male rats

<p>The hypoglycemic and antioxidants activities of the methanol extract of <i>Lepidium sativum</i> seeds was tested in alloxan-induced diabetic male rats. Thirty male <i>albino</i> rats weighing 190–200 g were divided into five groups as follows: negative control, positive control and three diabetic groups treated with three concentrations of <i>L. sativum</i> methanol extract for four weeks. Induction of hyperglycemia in the positive control group increased blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin A1c, immunoglobulins, liver enzyme, lipid peroxide and kidney function, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, very low-density lipoproteins and decreased antioxidants and high-density lipoproteins compared with the negative control. Furthermore, pancreas tissues showed pathological changes compared with the negative control. Treating the diabetic rats with <i>L. sativum</i> methanol extract decreased blood sugar and restored all biochemical and histological changes to the normal. It could be concluded that <i>L. sativum</i> methanol extract succeeded in controlling diabetes, increasing antioxidants and ameliorating lipid profile.</p