Healing effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. in experimental gastric ulcer in rat.

Ephedra pachyclada Boiss. (family Ephedraceae) is a medicinal plant very frequently cited as acting against gastrointestinal disorders in ethno-pharmacological inventories of the Kerman region of Iran. This study was done to evaluate the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract from the stems of E. pachyclada for treatment of gastric ulcers induced by ethanol in Wistar rats. Experimental treatments were the hydro-alcoholic extract of E. pachyclada (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, orally), omperazole as standard drug (20 mg/kg, orally), and control group. Ulcer index in mm2 and histological examination were evaluated. On 3, 6, 9 and 12 day after treatments, the hydro-alcoholic extract of E. pachyclata (1000 mg/kg) produced 51, 72, 98.8 and 100% and omperazole also produced 53, 79, 93 and 100% curative effect for gastric mucosal damage in ethanol model, respectively. The results of the histopalogical analysis indicated the hydro-alcoholic extract of E. pachyclada at 1000 mg/kg was effective in experimentally healing rat ulcers. E. pachyclada accelerated ulcer healing in rats and, thus supports its folk medicine use by Kerman people.