Objectives: Regarding Lemon verbena gastroprotective effects, we investigated the protective effects of Lemon verbena extracts on reducing gastric ulcer induced by indomethacin.
Materials and methods: Rats received aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Lemon verbena (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), zileuton (100 mg/kg), montelukast (10 mg/kg), or 1% Tween 80 in presence or absence of indomethacin (100 mg/kg).
Results: Indomethacin produced stomach ulcer and increased neutrophils percentage and MDA level compared with the control group (P<0.001). Co-administration of indomethacin and zileuton, montelukast and ethanolic (200 mg/kg) (P<0.001), aqueous extract (200 mg/kg) (P<0.05) reduced ulcer compared with the indomethacin group (P<0.001). Ethanolic extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg) and aqueous extract (200 mg/kg) reduced the MDA level (P<0.001). Ethanolic (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) and aqueous extracts (200 mg/kg) significantly decreased neutrophils percentage compared with the indomethacin group (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Aqueous and particularly ethanolic extracts of Lemon verbena have protective effects on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers.
Keywords: Gastric ulcer; Indomethacin; Lemon verbena; Lippia citriodora; NSAIDs.