Asian Journal of Medical Principles and Clinical Practice

Peptic ulcer disease is thought to result from a disturbed balance between the protective factors represented by the mucosa–bicarbonate barrier and the aggressive forces represented by acid and pepsin. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Portulaca oleracea juice on a peptic ulcer in rats. Twenty-eight male rats were divided into four groups of equal weight and number (5 rats each). Group I served as the positive control group (untreated group) and Group II served as a standard group (treated with the antiulcer agent), groups III and IV serviced as tested groups with Portulaca oleracea for two weeks at a dose of 0.50 and 1.00 ml/100 g of body weight, respectively. At the last day of the experimental period (14 days), all rats were starved of food but not of water for 18 hours. After fasting period, Groups I was given orally distilled water; standard group II was given (I/P) intra-perioteneally Zantac (ranitidine) at a dose 6 mg/100 g body weight, 60 min prior administered ethanol. Groups (I and II) were given orally saline and the other two groups were given Portulaca oleracea juice, 120 min prior administered ethanol. Then ethanol was administered orally to all `groups at 0.5 ml/100 g. After four hours of Ethyl alcohol administration, all animals were sacrificed and their stomachs were taken out and washed by normal saline. The gastric juice for each animal was collected to measure the volume of the gastric contents and pH value was measured. The present results showed that Portulaca oleracea extract had a significantly positive anti-ulcer effect which was more detectable with increasing doses of the extract. The present results concluded that regular intake of Portulaca oleracea had an anti-ulcer effect.