Antiulcerogenic and ulcer healing effects of Solanum nigrum (L.) on experimental ulcer models: Possible mechanism for the inhibition of acid formation

Solanum nigrum, an herbal plant which is recommended in ayurveda for the management of gastric ulcers. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate the antiulcer effect of Solanum nigrum fruits extract (SNE) on cold restraint stress (CRU), indomethacin (IND), pyloric ligation (PL) and ethanol (EtOH) induced gastric ulcer models and ulcer healing activity on acetic acid induced ulcer model in rats. The treatment with SNE at higher dose significantly inhibited the gastric lesions induced by CRU (76.6%), IND (73.8%), PL (80.1%) and EtOH (70.6%), respectively, with equal or higher potency than omeprazole. SNE showed concomitant attenuation of gastric secretory volume, acidity and pepsin secretion in ulcerated rats. In addition, SNE (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) accelerated the healing of acetic acid induced ulcers after the treatment for 7 days. Further, to ascertain the antisecretory action, the effects of SNE on H+K+ATPase activity and plasma concentration of gastrin hormone in ulcerated rats were determined. SNE significantly inhibits H+K+ATPase activity and decreases the gastrin secretion in EtOH-induced ulcer model. The severity of the reaction of ulcerogen and the reduction of ulcer size by SNE was evident by histological findings. Toxicity studies of SNE have also been carried out for its safety evaluation. SNE, thus, offers antiulcer activity by blocking acid secretion through inhibition of H+K+ATPase and decrease of gastrin secretion. These results further suggest that SNE was found to possess antiulcerogenic as well as ulcer healing properties, which might also be due to its antisecretory activity.