Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world affecting lives of millions of people. Hyssopus officinalis L. have been used as carminative and antispasmodic stomachic in Iran and Indian traditional systems of medicine. Thus, present study was aimed to evaluate gastroprotective activity of ethanolic extract of Hyssopus officinalis L. leaves (EEHO) in indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in experimental rats. Female Sprague Dawley rats of groups I, II, III, IV, V, and VI received orally 1 mL/kg/day 1% CMC (carboxy methylcellulose), 1 mL/kg/day 1% CMC, 250 mg EEHO/kg/day, 500 mg EEHO/kg/day, 50 mg ranitidine/kg/day and 500 mg EEHO/kg/day respectively for 10 days. Then, all the groups except groups I and VI were orally administered with 20 mg indomethacin/kg b.wt on 11th day. Ulcer index and mucus barrier were determined. Antioxidant parameters thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione-reduced (GSH), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were evaluated. Stomach was examined for histopathology also. EEHO in groups III and IV significantly (p < 0.01) increased the mucus barrier, SOD, GSH, and catalase while significantly (p < 0.01) decreased the ulcer index and TBARS as compared to ulcer control group II. Histopathological findings showed that indomethacin administration in group II caused PUD (gastric ulcer) and the gastric ulcer was protected by pretreatment with EEHO in groups III and IV. Thus, EEHO possesses gastroprotective activity where the gastroprotection is by strengthening of the gastric mucosa and reduction of oxidative stress. The gastroprotective activity of EEHO was comparable to that of standard drug ranitidine.
Keywords: Hyssopus officinalis L.; antioxidant; indomethacin; mucus; oxidative stress; ulcer index.