Page 110 - ITPS-7-1

INNOSC Theranostics and
Pharmacological Sciences Anti-ulcer activity of Rheum spiciforme

In addition, the ulcer index was decreased (12.88, 10.97, dichloromethane fractions were found to mildly reduce
and 9.18) at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg; notably, number of lesions (5.50 ± 2.46 and 5.33 ± 0.88, respectively)
the effect of the 500 mg/kg dose on ulcer index was more in comparison with the control group. Butanol fraction of
pronounced with respect to the other two doses. The the extract also decreased the ulcer severity score markedly
gastroprotective effect of the crude plant extract was also down to 5.66 ± 1.49, while aqueous and dichloromethane
measured in terms of percentage inhibition of ulcer; it was fractions reduced the ulcer severity score non-significantly
found that the extract at the dose of presented 125 mg/kg (25.33 ± 7.49 and 23.83 ± 3.21, respectively) as compared
dose engendered a gastric damage inhibition of 8.13%, with control group (31.50 ± 3.56). The 250 mg/kg dose of
while higher doses at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg inhibited butanol fraction reduced the ulcer index to 9.063 ± 0.18,
the damage by 21.75% and 34.52% (Table 1). producing an effect resembling that of the reference drug
(9.32 ± 0.31). Aqueous fraction significantly lowered
3.2. Gastro-protective effect of crude plant extract the ulcer index (11.41 ± 0.9492) while dichloromethane
on pH, volume, and acidity of gastric juice fraction non-significantly reduced the ulcer index
R. spiciforme crude extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses (12.88 ± 0.71) as compared with the control group.
markedly increased the pH of gastric juice (P < 0.05 and 3.4. Effect of fractions of R. spiciforme on gastric
P < 0.001, respectively) in comparison with control group, juice parameters in rats with ethanol-induced ulcer
while increase in pH was observed following treatment
with 125 mg/kg of the extract was non-significant as Both butanol and aqueous fractions significantly
compared to the control group (Figure 1). The 250 elevated the pH of gastric juice (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05,
and 500 mg/kg doses of the crude extract reduced the respectively) as compared to ulcer control, dwarfing
volume of gastric juice significantly (P < 0.01), whereas the minute, non-significant pH elevation achieved by
the 125 mg/kg dose only mildly reduced the gastric juice dichloromethane fraction (Figure 2). Regarding other
volume (4.46 ± 0.264 mL) in comparison with the control gastric juice parameters, butanol fraction was singled out
group (4.61 ± 0.47 mL). The 250 and 500 mg/kg doses for its significant lowering effects on these parameters
of aqueous ethanol extract significantly reduced the free (P < 0.001), namely the volume of gastric juice, free, and
acidity (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively) as compared to total acidity, in comparison with control group.
the control group, but the 125 mg/kg dose led to only non-
significant decrease in the acidity of gastric juice. On the 3.5. LC-MS results
other hand, total acidity was significantly reduced by 250 Figure 3 shows the LC-MS chromatogram of butanol
and 500 mg/kg doses (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively), fraction of R. spiciforme extract detected at negative and
as shown in Figure 1. positive modes. The peaks of emodin and aloe emodin
were obtained at 3.42 retention time with molecular
3.3. Effect of R. spiciforme root extract’s fractions on weight 270.00 g/moL. The compounds – emodin and aloe-
gastric mucosal injury in rats with ethanol-induced emodin – were identified based on the molecular weight
ulcer in the butanol fraction of plant extract, with the aid of a
The 250 mg/kg dose was used to prepare the butanol, standard reference graph.
aqueous, and dichloromethane fractions of plant extract.
The butanol fraction caused a marked reduction in lesion 4. Discussion
formation (1.66 ± 0.42) in comparison to the control group The ulcer usually manifests as an open sore of the skin
(7.16 ± 0.30), as presented in Table 2. Both aqueous and or the mucosal membrane, characterized by sloughing

Table 1. Gastro-protective effect of R. spiciforme crude extract on gastric mucosal injury in rats with ethanol-induced ulcer
Treatment (mg/kg) Number of lesions Severity score Ulcer index Percentage inhibition of ulcer (%)
Control 7.833 ±0.4773 32.33±2.813 14.02±0.2522 NA
Omeprazole 2.167±0.6009*** 8.083±2.758*** 9.356±0.3295*** 33.26
RS-CE (125 mg/kg) 6.500±0.9574 ns 22.67±7.311 ns 12.88±0.7148 ns 8.13
RS-CE (250 mg/kg) 2.500±0.4282*** 7.167±1.701*** 10.97±0.1909*** 21.75
RS-CE (500 mg/kg) 1.667±0.4216*** 6.833±1.778*** 9.180±0.2045*** 34.52
Notes: Values are expressed as means±standard error of mean (n=6); ***P<0.001, ns: Non-significant versus control group, analyzed by one-way
analysis of variance (with Dunnett’s test).
Abbreviation: RS-CE: Rheum spiciforme crude extract.

Volume 7 Issue 1 (2024) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/itps.1343