70

ANTIULCER ACTIVITY OF ALLIUM SATIVUM

BULB JUICE IN RATS

Mohammed Azamthulla1, Mohammed Asad1*,and V. Satya Prasad2

‫ﺗﻢ ﺗﻘﻴﻴﻢ ﺗﺄﺛﻴﺮ ﻋﺼﻴﺮ اﻟﺜﻮم ﻋﻠ ﻰ اﻟﻘﺮﺣ ﺔ اﻟﻤﻌﺪﻳ ﺔ وﻗﺮﺣ ﺔ اﻹﺛﻨ ﻲ ﻋﺸ ﺮ ﺑﺎﺳ ﺘﺨﺪام ﻃﺮاﺋ ﻖ اﻟﻘﺮﺣ ﺎت اﻟﻤﻌﺪﻳ ﺔ اﻟﻤﺨﺘﻠﻔ ﺔ‬
‫ وﻗﺪ ﺗﻢ إﻋﻄ ﺎء اﻟﻌﺼ ﻴﺮ ﺑﺠ ﺮﻋﺘﻴﻦ ﻓﻤ ﻮﻳﺘﻴﻦ هﻤ ﺎ‬.‫وﻧﻤﻮذج ﻗﺮﺣﺔ اﻹﺛﻨﻲ ﻋﺸﺮ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺤﺜﺔ ﺑﻤﺎدة ﺳﻴﺴﺘﻴﺎﻣﻴﻦ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺠﺮذان‬
‫ وﻗ ﺪ أﻇﻬ ﺮت اﻟﺠﺮﻋﺘ ﺎن ﺗ ﺄﺛﻴﺮًا ﺷ ﺎﻓﻴًﺎ ﻓ ﻲ ﺣﺎﻟ ﺔ اﻟﻘﺮﺣ ﺎت اﻟﻤﻌﺪﻳ ﺔ اﻟﻤﺰﻣﻨ ﺔ اﻟﻤﺴ ﺘﺤﺜﺔ‬.‫آ ﻎ‬/‫ ﻣ ﻎ‬500 ‫آ ﻎ و‬/‫ ﻣ ﻎ‬250
‫ آﻤ ﺎ أﻇﻬﺮﺗ ﺎ‬،‫ وأﻇﻬﺮﺗ ﺎ ﺗ ﺄﺛﻴﺮًا ﻣﻀ ﺎدًا ﻹﻓ ﺮاز اﻟﺤﻤ ﺾ ﻓ ﻲ اﻟﺠ ﺮذان اﻟﻤﺮﺑﻮﻃ ﺔ ﺑﻮاﺑ ﺎت اﻟﻤﻌ ﺪة ﻟ ﺪﻳﻬﺎ‬،‫ﺑﺤﻤﺾ اﻟﺨ ﻞ‬
‫ﻼ هﺎﻣ ًﺎ‬
ً ‫ آﻤﺎ أﻇﻬﺮ اﻟﻌﺼﻴﺮ ﺗﻘﻠﻴ‬.‫ﺗﺄﺛﻴﺮًا ﺧﻠﻮﻳًﺎ واﻗﻴًﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺣﺎﻟﺔ اﻟﻘﺮﺣﺎت اﻟﻤﻌﺪﻳﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺤﺜﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﻜﺤﻮل أو ﺑﻤﺎدة إﻧﺪوﻣﻴﺜﺎﺳﻴﻦ‬
‫ وآﺎﻧ ﺖ ﺟﺮﻋ ﺔ اﻟﻌﺼ ﻴﺮ‬.‫ وﻗﺮﺣﺎت اﻹﺛﻨﻲ ﻋﺸﺮ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺤﺜﺔ ﺑﻤ ﺎدة ﺳﻴﺴ ﺘﻴﺎﻣﻴﻦ‬.‫ﻓﻲ اﻟﻘﺮﺣﺎت اﻟﻤﻌﺪﻳﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺤﺜﺔ ﺑﺎﻹﺟﻬﺎد‬
‫ وﻧﺴ ﺘﻨﺘﺞ أن ﻋﺼ ﻴﺮ اﻟﺜ ﻮم ﺗﺰﻳ ﺪ ﻣ ﻦ‬.(‫آ ﻎ‬/‫ ﻣ ﻎ‬500) ‫آﻎ( أآﺜﺮ ﺗﺄﺛﻴﺮًا ﺑﺎﻟﻤﻘﺎرﻧﺔ ﻣﻊ اﻟﺠﺮﻋﺔ اﻷﻋﻠ ﻰ‬/‫ ﻣﻎ‬250) ‫اﻷﻗﻞ‬
.‫ﺷﻔﺎء اﻟﻘﺮﺣﺎت اﻟﻤﻌﺪﻳﺔ وﻳﻤﻨﻊ ﻣﻦ ﺗﻄﻮر ﻗﺮﺣﺎت اﻹﺛﻨﻲ ﻋﺸﺮ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﺤﺜﺔ ﺗﺠﺮﻳﺒﻴًﺎ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺠﺮذان‬

The effect of raw Allium sativum Linn. bulb juice on gastric and duodenal ulcers was
evaluated by using different gastric ulcer methods and cysteamine induced duodenal
ulcer model in rats. Allium sativum Linn. bulb juice was administered orally at two
different doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg. Both the doses of garlic juice showed
gastric ulcer healing effect in acetic acid induced chronic gastric ulcers, produced
gastric antisecretory effect in pylorus-ligated rats and also showed gastric cytoprotective
effect in ethanol-induced and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer. The juice also
produced a significant reduction in stress induced gastric ulcers and cysteamine-induced
duodenal ulcers. The low dose of the juice (250 mg/kg, p.o.) was more effective
compared to the high dose (500 mg/kg, p.o.). It was concluded that juice of Allium
sativum Linn. bulb increases healing of gastric ulcers and prevents the development of
experimentally induced gastric and duodenal ulcers in rats

Key words: Duodenal ulcer, gastric cytoprotection, gastric secretion, gastric ulcer,
Allium sativum Linn.

Introduction spicy food, fatty food or foods containing caffeine

stimulates acid secretion in stomach and increase the
The development and progression of gastric risk of ulcer formation (1). On the other hand, food
ulcer depends to some extent on the type of the food containing flavonoids like apples, celery, cranberries
consumed by the patient. It has been shown that and onion may inhibit the growth of H pylori and
1
Department of Pharmacology, Krupanidhi College of Pharmacy, may reduce the development of H pylori induced
# 5, Sarjapur Road, Koramangala,Bangalore -560 034, INDIA gastric ulcers. High fiber diets such as potatoes,
2
Department of Anatomy, MNR, Medical College, Andhra
Pradesh, INDIA.
banana, peas, beans etc; also reduce the development
* of duodenal ulcers and the same is true with fruits
To whom correspondence should be addressed.
E-mail:mohammedasad@rediffmail.com rich in vitamin C (2).

Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1 January 2009

ANTIULCER ACTIVITY OF ALLIUM SATIVUM
Allium sativum Linn commonly known as garlic
belongs to family Liliaceae. Apart from its use as
spice, garlic is reported to possess a wide variety of
pharmacological actions, among which, the best
known are its effect on the cardiovascular system
and in prevention of gastric cancer (3-5). The effect
of garlic on gastrointestinal mucosa is known. Garlic
is known to inhibit the growth of H pylori (6-8).
Garlic oil is reported to possess antiulcer effect in
ethanol induced gastric damage and its effect was
reported to be due to its antioxidant property (9). It is
believed in the traditional medicine that consump-
tion of garlic can cure stomach problems (10).
However, clinical studies carried out with different
garlic preparations indicate that garlic irritates
gastric mucosa and can produce gastric lesions (11).
Further, garlic extracts were reported to inhibit the
effect of prostaglandin E, a cytoprotective agent in
stomach (12).
Since, garlic is widely used as spice and also as
medicine for the treatment of various diseases, the
present study was undertaken to evaluate its effect
on the development and healing of experimentally
induced gastric and duodenal ulcers in rats.
Materials & Methods
Collection of plant material and preparation of raw
garlic juice:
The raw garlic bulbs were purchased from local
market. Peeled garlic bulbs were crushed using
mortar and pestle and then strained through fine
filter. The juice that came out was collected. The
juice obtained was subjected to preliminary
phytochemical analysis (13).
Experimental animals:
Male albino Wistar rats weighing between 200-
250 g were used. Institutional Animal Ethics
Committee approved the experimental protocol.
Animals were maintained under standard conditions
in an animal house approved by committee for the
purpose of control, and supervision on experiments
on animals (CPCSEA).
Treatment:
The animals were grouped into four groups
consisting of six animals each. The first group
served as control and received saline (1 ml/kg, p.o.).
The second group and third group received low dose
of raw garlic juice (250 mg/kg, p.o.) and high dose
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1 January 2009
71
of raw garlic juice (500 mg/kg, p.o.) respectively.
The last group was treated with either ranitidine (50
mg/kg, p.o.) (14) or misoprostol (100 μg/kg, p.o.)
(15) depending on the gastric antisecretory and
gastric cytoprotective models respectively.
Gastric ulcers:
1. Acetic acid- induced chronic gastric ulcer (14,
16):
The animals were fasted for 24 h prior to the
experiment. Under light ether anesthesia, the
abdomen was opened by midline incision below the
xiphoid process and the stomach was exposed.
Glacial acetic acid (0.05 ml) was added to the
cylindrical mould of 6.0 mm diameter placed tightly
over the anterior serosal surface of the stomach and
this was allowed to remain over there for 60 sec. The
acid solution was removed by rinsing the mould with
normal saline twice or thrice to avoid damage to the
surrounding tissues. The stomach was placed back
carefully and the abdominal wall was closed. The
animals were treated with vehicle, different doses of
raw garlic juice or ranitidine once daily for 10 days
after induction of ulcer while the control group
received only vehicle. Rats were sacrificed on the
10th day, stomach was removed and cut opened
along the greater curvature.
The stomach samples were scanned using a
computer scanner and the total mucosal area and
total ulcerated area were measured using public
domain image processing and analysis program
developed at the National Institutes of Health, USA.
The PC version of the program was downloaded free
from Scion (http://www.scioncorp.com) (Scion
Image for Windows, Release Beta 4.0.2). The scale
was set at 6.1 pixels per millimeter.
The ulcer index was determined using the formula
(17).
Ulcer index = 10/X
Where X = Total mucosal area / Total ulcerated area.
The ulcers were given scores based on their intensity
as follows
0 = no ulcer, 1 = superficial mucosal erosion, 2 =
deep ulcer or transmural necrosis, 3 = perforated or
penetrated ulcer.
2. Pylorus ligation induced ulcers (Shay rat) (18,
19):
The animals were fasted for 36 h before pylorus
ligation with water ad libitum. Normal saline
72
(1ml/rat, p.o.) was administered twice daily to all the
animals. Under light ether anesthesia, the abdomen
was opened by midline incision below the xiphoid
process. The pyloric portion of the stomach was
slightly lifted out and ligated, avoiding damage to its
blood supply. The raw garlic juice, ranitidine or
normal saline was administered intraduodenally
immediately after pylorus ligation. The stomach was
placed back carefully and the abdominal wall was
closed with sutures. Animals were sacrificed 6 h
after pylorus ligation.
The stomachs were isolated and the content of
the stomachs were collected and centrifuged. The
volume of the gastric juice was measured and this
was used for estimation of free acidity and total
acidity (20), pepsin content (21), and total proteins
(22). The ulcer index was determined as mentioned
above and the gastric mucus content was estimated
(23).
3. Healing of indomethacin induced gastric ulcers
(24):
The gastric ulcers were induced by administering
indomethacin (5 mg/kg, p.o.) for 5 days, during this
period the animals were fed normally. The animals
were then treated either with misoprostol (100
µg/kg, p.o.), or with different dose of raw garlic
juice (250 mg/kg, p.o. or 500 mg/kg, p.o.) once daily
for 5 days after induction of ulcer while the control
group received only vehicle. Rats were sacrificed
and the stomachs were removed and they were cut
opened along the greater curvature and ulcer index
were determined.
4. Ethanol induced ulcers (25):
All the animals were fasted for 36 h before
administration of ethanol. The standard drug (miso-
prostol 100 µg/kg, p.o.) or raw garlic juice were
administered 1 h before ethanol administration.
Ethanol (90%) was administered to all the animals at
a dose of 1 ml/200 g and after 1 h, the animals were
sacrificed, stomachs were isolated and ulcer index
was determined as mentioned above. The same
software used for the measurement of total mucosal
area and total ulcerated area in other models was
used for quantification of ulcerated lesions using
method described by Khan (26).
5. Cold restraint stress induced ulcers (27, 28):
The ulcers were induced by subjecting the
animals to cold restraint stress. Drugs or vehicle
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1 January 2009
AZAMTHULLA ET AL
were administered 30 min prior to subjection of
stress. The animals were placed in a restraint cage
and the cage was placed at a temperature of 20C for
3 h. After 3 h, the animals were sacrificed by over
dose of ether anesthesia and the stomach was
isolated and cut opened along the greater curvature
The ulcer index was determined.
Duodenal ulcer:
Cysteamine induced duodenal ulcers (29):
Duodenal ulcers were induced by administering
cysteamine hydrochloride (400 mg/kg, p.o.) twice at
an interval of 4h. Raw garlic juice or ranitidine (50
mg/kg, p.o.) were administered 30 min prior to each
dose of cysteamine hydrochloride. After 24 h, all the
animals were sacrificed by over dose of ether ane-
sthesia and the duodena were excised carefully and
cut opened along the antimesentric side. The duod-
enal ulcer area (mm2), ulcer score and ulcer index
were determined.
The ulcers were given scores based on their
intensity as follows:
0 = no ulcer, 1 = superficial mucosal erosion, 2 =
deep ulcer or transmural necrosis,
3 = perforated or penetrated ulcer.
The ulcer index was calculated using the
following equation (30)
Statistical analysis:
The statistical significance was assessed using
one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by
Bonferroni comparison test. For comparing non-
parametric ulcer scores, ANOVA followed by non-
parametric Dunn post-test was used. The values are
expressed as mean ± SEM and p<0.05 was
considered significant.
Results
Preliminary phytochemical investigation:
The preliminary phytochemical investigation of
the raw juice of the bulb of Allium sativum Linn.
showed that it contains carbohydrates, proteins,
steroids and saponins.
ANTIULCER ACTIVITY OF ALLIUM SATIVUM 73

Acetic acid- induced chronic gastric ulcer:
The bulb juice of raw garlic produced significant
reduction in ulcer index and ulcer score of 10 day
old ulcer indicating that it augments healing. The
low dose of raw garlic juice (250 mg/kg, p.o.) was
more effective in reducing ulcer index (68.91%) than
high dose (500 mg/kg, p.o.) of garlic (41.35%).
Ranitidine was most effective producing almost 97%
reduction in ulcer index (Table-1).

Table 1: Effect on acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer.

Treatment Ulcer Ulcer

score index

Saline 2.8 ± 0.200 0.524 ± 0.025 (1 ml/kg, p.o.)

Garlic juice
***
(250 mg/kg, p.o.) 1.0 ± 0.00 0.136 ± 0.018***
Garlic juice
(500 mg/ kg, p.o.) 1.8 ± 0.200***++ 0.328 ± 0.010***+++
Ranitidine
(50 mg/kg, p.o.) 0.0 ± 0.00*** 0.018 ± 0.011***

All the values are mean ± SEM, n=5 to 6. ***p<0.001 Vs control, ++p<0.01, +++p<0.01 Vs low dose.

Table 2: Effect on pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcer.

Treatment Free acidity Total acidity Ulcer index Mucin content Pepsin content Total protein
Content (mEq/l) (mEq/l) (µmol/6 hr) (mg/ml) (µg/g)

Saline 65.4 ± 3.47 1O4 ± 3.61 0.55 ± 0.025 0.98 ± 0.130 0.26 ± 0.01 5.73 ± 0.42 (1 ml/kg, p.o.)
Garlic juice
*** *** *** *** ***
(250 mg/kg, p.o.) 30.8 ± 0.58 72.6 ± 1.03 0.16 ± 0.010 2.63 ± 0.143 0.16 ± 0.08 10.52 ± 0.50***
Garlic juice
(500 mg/kg, p.o.) 42.8 ± 0.80***++ 89 ± 2.47**++ 0.316 ± 0.01***+++ 1.91 ± 0.09++ 0.20 ± 0.04 ***+ 8.82 ± 0.22***+
Ranitidine
(50 mg/kg, p.o. 24.8 ± 1.68 *** 64.6 ± 1.93*** 0.10 ± 0.013*** 1.68 ± 0.24* 0.11 ± 0.07*** 13.57 ± 0.41***

All the values are mean ± SEM, n=5 to 6. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 Vs control, +p<0.05, ++p<0.01, +++p<0.001 Vs low dose.

Table 3: Effect on ulcer index in indomethacin and ethanol induced gastric ulcers.

Treatment Ulcer index

Indomethacin Ethanol
induced induced

Saline (1 ml/kg, p.o.) 0.57 ± 0.013 0.383 ± 0.0262

Garlic juice
***
(250 mg/kg, p.o.) 0.148 ± 0.017 0.137 ± 0.006***
Garlic juice
(500 mg/kg, p.o.) 0.314 ± 0.012***+++ 0.251 ± 0.025***++
Misoprostol
(100 µ/kg, p.o.) 0.072 ± 0.009*** 0.079 ± 0.088***

All the values are mean ± SEM, n=5 to 6. **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, Vs control, ++p<0.01, +++p<0.001 Vs low dose.

Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1 January 2009

74 AZAMTHULLA ET AL

Table 4: Effect on cold restraint stress induced ulcers.

Treatment Ulcer index

Saline
(1 ml/kg, p.o.) 0.42 ± 0.025
Garlic juice
(250 mg/kg, p.o.) 0.17 ± 0.013***
Garlic juice
(500 mg/kg, p.o.) 0.27 ± 0.010***++
Ranitidine
(50 mg/kg, p.o.) 0.07 ± 0.008***

All the values are mean ± SEM, n=5 to 6. ***p<0.001 Vs control, ++p<0.01 Vs low dose.

Table 5: Effect on cysteamine induced duodenal ulcers.

Treatment Ulcer index Ulcer area (mm2) Ulcer

score

Saline (1 ml/kg, p.o.) 4.2 25.8± 3.720 2.2 ± 0.200

Garlic juice
(250 mg/kg, p.o.) 1.8 2.6 ± 0.663*** 0.6 ± 0.244***
Garlic juice
(500 mg/kg, p.o.) 2.2 10.2 ± 1.116*** 1.2 ± 0.200***
Ranitidine
(50 mg/kg, p.o.) 0.0 0.0 ± 0.000*** 0.0 ± 0.00***

All the values are mean ± SEM, n=5 to 6. ***p<0.001 Vs control.

Pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcers:
Bulb juice of garlic showed a significant reduc-
tion in ulcer index when compared to control
(p<0.001). The low dose of raw garlic juice (250
mg/kg, p.o.) showed a significant reduction in free
acidity and total acidity (p<0.001), while the high
dose of raw garlic juice (500 mg/kg, p.o.) produced
reduction only in total acidity (p<0.001) when
compared to control. The low dose of raw garlic
juice also showed a significant effect on mucin
content, pepsin activity, and total protein and the
high dose was effective only in reducing pepsin
activity and in increasing total proteins (Table-2).
Healing of indomethacin induced gastric ulcers:
The bulb juice of raw garlic increased the
healing of indomethacin induced gastric ulcers as
shown by a significant reduction in ulcer index
(p<0.001). The low dose of garlic (250 mg/kg, p.o.)
was significantly more effective (p<0.001) compared
to the high dose (500 mg/kg, p.o.) of garlic (Table-
3).
Ethanol and cold restraint stress induced ulcers:
Both the doses of raw garlic juice showed a
significant reduction in ulcer index when compared
to control (p<0.001). In both the cases, the low dose
of garlic juice was more effective in healing of
ulcers when compared with high dose (Table-3 and
Table-4).
Cysteamine induced duodenal ulcers:
Both the doses of bulb juice of raw garlic
showed significant reduction in ulcer area and ulcer
score when compared to control. The low dose of
garlic (250 mg/kg, p.o.) was slightly more effective
than high dose (500 mg/kg, p.o.) in reducing the
ulcer area and ulcer score. The ulcer was developed
on the anti-mesenteric side of the duodenum (Table-
5).

Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1 January 2009

ANTIULCER ACTIVITY OF ALLIUM SATIVUM
Discussion
The current study dealt with the effect of bulb
juice of raw Allium sativum on the gastric and
duodenal ulcers in rats. The bulb juice of Allium
sativum Linn. showed ulcer healing effect in acetic
acid induced gastric ulcers and prevented the deve-
lopment of ulcers in other models of gastric and duo-
denal ulcers.
Application of glacial acetic acid on to the
serosal surface of the rat stomach produces deep
penetrating gastric ulcers. The ulcers produced by
acetic acid and its healing closely resembles peptic
ulcer in humans (16). Both the doses of raw garlic
juice increased healing of the acetic acid induced
ulcers. To determine the mechanism by which raw
garlic juice increased gastric ulcer healing, its effect
on gastric secretion and gastric cytoprotection was
evaluated using different gastric ulcer parameters.
The pylorus ligation induced ulcer was used to
study the effect on gastric secretion. The ligation of
the pyloric end of the stomach causes accumulation
of gastric acid in the stomach that produces ulcers.
Agents that reduce secretion of gastric aggressive
factors such as acid and pepsin (antisecretory) and/or
increase secretion mucin (cytoprotective) are
effective in reducing development of gastric ulcers
in this model (18). The low dose of garlic (250
mg/kg, p.o.) decreased gastric acid and pepsin
secretion and increased gastric mucus secretion
indicating that it influences gastric ulcer by both
antisecretory and cytoprotective effects. The high
dose of raw garlic juice (500 mg/kg, p.o.) was
effective only in reducing gastric acid and pepsin
secretion. Ethanol-induced and indomethacin-indu-
ced gastric ulcer models were employed to study the
cytoprotective effect. The bulb juice of garlic was
effective in reducing ulcer index in both these
models.
Stress plays an important role in ulcerogenesis.
The pathophysiology of stress-induced gastric ulcers
is complex. Stress induced gastric ulcers are pro-
bably mediated by histamine release with enhan-
cement in acid secretion and reduction in mucus
production (31, 32). The bulb juice of garlic was
effective in reducing the ulcers induced by stress.
The low dose of garlic (250 mg/kg, p.o.) was more
effective in reducing ulcers than the high dose of
garlic (500 mg/kg, p.o.). This effect is probably due
to gastric antisecretory effect of the garlic juice.
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1 January 2009
75
Cysteamine induced duodenal ulcer in rats is a
widely used method to evaluate effect on duodenal
ulcer. Cysteamine inhibits the alkaline mucus se-
cretion from the Bruner glands in the proximal
duodenum and stimulates gastric acid secretion.
Gastric emptying is also delayed, and serum gastrin
concentration is increased (33). The bulb juice of
garlic was effective in reducing the ulcers in cystea-
mine induced duodenal ulcers. The low dose of
garlic (250 mg/kg, p.o.) was more effective in preve-
nting development of ulcers than the high dose of
garlic (500 mg/kg, p.o.).
Garlic bulb contains carbohydrates, proteins,
fats, mucilage and 0.06% to 0.1% of volatile oil. The
volatile oil is the chief active constituent; it contains
allyl propyl disuphide and diallyl disulphyl, alliin
and allicin (34). Most of the cardiovascular effects of
garlic are attributed to the presence of allicin (35).
Earlier reports on the effect of garlic bulb on
gastric secretion and gastric ulcer are contradictory
to the findings of the present study. Administration
of different garlic preparations such as raw garlic
powder and dehydrated boiled garlic powder but not
aged garlic extract to normal healthy human
volunteers is reported to produce reddening of
gastric mucosa (11). Garlic extract is reported to
increase gastric acid secretion with no effect on
gastric pepsin secretion (36). On the contrary, the
aqueous extract of garlic is reported to decrease
water avoidance stress induced gastric mucosal
damage and this effect was reported to be due to its
potent antioxidant effect (37). The exact constitu-
ent(s) and the mechanism by which garlic showed
antisecretory and antiulcer effect in the present study
can not be explained with the present data. However,
it is worth mentioning here that different prepara-
tions of garlic show different pharmacological
effects, especially antioxidant effect due to presence
of different active constituents in these preparations
(11). As mentioned earlier, garlic oil is also reported
to possess antiulcer effect in ethanol induced gastric
damage due to its antioxidant property (9). The
present study was carried out using raw garlic juice
to evaluate the effect of consumption of garlic on the
gastric and duodenal ulcers and it showed both
gastric antisecretory and gastric cytoprotective
effect. Further work has to be carried out to deter-
mine the constituent(s) responsible for the antiulcer
effect followed by elucidation of its mechanism of
action.
76
The results of the current study suggest that
consumption of bulb juice of garlic in low doses may
be beneficial in healing of ulcers in patient suffering
from peptic ulcer disease.
To conclude, the bulb juice of raw Allium
sativum Linn. possesses antiulcer effect. It increased
healing of acetic acid induced chronic gastric ulcers
and prevented the development of gastric ulcers
induced by pylorus ligation, ethanol, stress or indo-
methacin. Bulb juice of raw Allium sativum Linn.
was also effective in preventing the development of
cysteamine induced duodenal ulcers.
Acknowledgement
The authors are thankful to Prof. Suresh Nagpal,
Chairman, Krupanidhi Educational Trust (Banga-
lore, India), Prof. Sunil S Dhamanigi, Secretary,
Krupanidhi Educational Trust and Dr. Amit Kumar
Das, Professor and Principal, Krupanidhi College of
Pharmacy for providing facilities to carry out this
work.
References
1. Crawford JM. The gastrointestinal tract in Robbin’s
Pathologic basis of disease. Citron, Kumar and Collin
(Eds), Saunders; New Delhi, 2003:787-802.
2. http:www.umm.edu\altmed\consconditions\pepticulcerc.ht
ml Date of retrieval: 14-10-04, Time; 18:30 IST.
3. Rahman K, Lowe GM. Garlic and cardiovascular disease: a
critical review. J Nutr 2006 Mar; 136(3suppl):736S-40S.
4. EI- Bayoumy K, Sinha R, Pinto JT, Rivlin RS. Cancer
chemoprevention by garlic and garlic-containing sulphur
and selenium compounds. J Nutr 2006 Mar; 136(3Suppl):-
864S-69S.
5. Milner JA. Preclinical perspectives on garlic and cancer. J
Nutr 2006 Mar; 136(3Suppl):827S-31S.
6. Sivam GP. Protection against Helicobacter Pylori and
other bacterial infection by garlic. J Nutr 2001 Mar;
131(3s):1106S-8S
7. Canizares P, Gracia I, Gomez LA, Martin de Argila C,
Boixeda D, Garcia A, de Rafael L. Allyl-thiosulfinates, the
bacteriostatic compound of garlic against Helicobacter
pylori. Biotechnol Prog 2004 Jan-Feb; 20(1):397-401.
8. Mahady GB, Matsuura H, Pendland SL. Allixan, a
phytoalexin from garlic, inhibits the growth of Helicobacter
pylori in vitro. Am J Gastroenterol 2001 Dec; (12):3454-5.
9. Khosla P, Karan RS, Bhargava VK. Effect of garlic oil on
ethanol induced gastric ulcer in rats. Phytother Res 2004
Jan; 18(1):87-91.
10. Ross IA. Medicinal plants of the world. New Jersey, USA:
Humana Press; 1999: pp 25-63
11. Hoshino.T, Kashimoto.N, Kasuga.S. Effects of garlic
preparations on the gastrointestinal mucosa. J Nutr 2001;
131:1109S-13S.
12. Gaffen JD, Tavares IA, Bennett A. The effect of garlic
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1 January 2009
AZAMTHULLA ET AL
extract on contractions of rat gastric fundus and human
platelet aggregation. J Pharm Pharmacol 1984 Apr;
36(4):272-4
13. Kokate CK, Purohit AP, Gokhale SB. Pharmacognosy.
Pune, India: Nirali Prakashan; 2004: pp347- 48.
14. Asad M, Shewade DG, Koumaravelou K, Abraham BK,
Vasu S, Ramaswamy S. Gastric anti-secretary anti-ulcer
activity of oxytocin in rats and guinea pigs. Life Sci 2001;
70:17-24.
15. Lacy ER, Hund P, Tietge J. Effects of misoprostol,
cimetidine and ethanol on rat gastric plasma volume and
morphology. J Clin Gastroenterol 1990; 12(1): S158-69.
16. Okabe S, Pfeiffer CJ, Roth JL. Experimental production of
duodenal and antral ulcers in rats. Fed Proc 1970; 29:255.
17. Ganguly AK. A method for quantitative assement of
experimentally produced ulcers in stomach of rats.
Experientia 1969; 25:11-24.
18. Shay H, Komarov SA, Fele SS, Meranze D, Gruenstein H,
Siplet H. A simple method for uniform production of
gastric ulceration in rat. Gastroenterololy 1945; 5:43-61.
19. Kulkarni SK. Hand book of experimental pharmacology.
3rded. New Delhi: Vallabh prakashan; 1999:pp148-50.
20. Hawk PB, Oser BL, Summerson HW. Practical physio-
logical chemistry 12th ed. London: Churchill; pp1947:347.
21. Debnath PK, Gore KO, Govinda DD, Sanyal AK. Effect of
propranolol on gastric secretion in rats. Br J Pharmacol
1974; 51:213-16.
22. Lowry CH, Rose borough NI, Farr AL, Randall RJ. Protein
measurement with folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 1951;
193:265-75.
23. Prabha T, Babu MD, Priyambada S, Agrawal VK, Goel
RK. Evaluation of Pongamia Pinnata root extract on gastric
and mucosal offensive and defensive factors in rats. Indian
J Exp.Biol 2003; 41(4):304-10.
24. Majumdar B, Chaudhri SGR, Ray A, Bandyopadhyay SK.
Effect of ethanol extract of piper betle linn leaf on healing
of NSAID-induced experimental ulcer–A novel role of free
radical scavenging action. Indian J Exp Biol 2003;
41(4):311-15.
25. Brzozowski T, Konturek SJ, Kwiecien S, Pajdo R,
Brzozowski I, Hahn EG. Involvement of endogenous
cholecystokinin and somatostatin in gastro protection
induced by intra duodenal fat. J Clin Gastroenterol 1998;
27:125-37.
26. Khan HA. Computer assisted visualization and quantitation
of experimental gastric lesions in rats. J Pharmacol Toxicol
Methods 2004; 9: 89–95.
27. Parmar NS, Desai JK. A review of the current methodology
for the evaluation of gastric and duodenal anti ulcer agents.
Indian J Pharmacol 1993; 25:120-35.
28. Vincent GP, Galvin GB, Rutkowski JL, Pare WP. Body
orientation, food deprivation and potentiation of restraint
induced gastric lesions. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 1977;
1:539-43.
29. Szabo S. Animal model for human disease: Duodenal ulcer
disease. Amer J Pathol 1978; 73:273-76.
30. Desai JK, Goyal RK, Parmar NS. Characterization of
dopamine receptor subtypes involved in experimentally
induced gastric and duodenal ulcers in rats. J Pharm
Pharmacol 1999; 51:187-92.
31. Michalel NP, Charles TR. Stressful life events, acid hyper
secretion and ulcer disease. Gastroenterology 1983; 84:
114-19.
ANTIULCER ACTIVITY OF ALLIUM SATIVUM
32. Brodie DAQ, Hanson HM. A study of the factors involved
in the production of gastric ulcers by the restraint
technique. Gastroenterology 1960; 38: 353-60.
33. Corne SJ, Morrissey SM, Woods RJ. A method for the
quantitative estimation of gastric barrier mucus. Proc
Physiol Soc1974; 116-17.
34. Kokate CK, Purohit AP, Gokhale SB. Pharmacognosy.
Pune, India: Nirali Prakashan; 1998: pp445.
35. Sanjay K, Banerjee, Subir K Maulik: A review of effect of
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1 January 2009
77
garlic on cardiovascular disorders. Nutr J 2002; 4(1):1-14.
36. Rafsanjani.F.N, Shahrani.N, Vahedian.J. Garlic Effects on
Gastric Acid and Pepsin Secretions in Rat. Pak J Med Sci
(July – Sep) 2006; 22(3):265-68
37. Zeybek.A, Ercan F, Cetinel S, Cikler E, Saglam B, Sener
G. Protective effects of aqueous garlic extract in reducing
water avoidance stress-induced degeneration of the
stomach, ileum, and liver: Morphological and Biochemical
Study. Diges Dise Sci 2007; 52(11):2984-92.