Abstract:
In one of the Ayurvedic treatise 'Patoladi' decoction (PD) consisting
of five ingredients (Terminalia chebula Retr, Terminalia belerica Roxb,
Phyllenthus emblica Linn. Trichosanthes cucumarina Linn, Azadirachta
indica A, Juss.i is recommended for the treatment of 'Amlapitta' (dyspepsia/
gastritis). This indicates that PD may posses gastroprotective action.
The aim of this study was to investigate this possibility in rats using ethanol-
induced gastric lesions. Different concentrations of freshly prepared
PD was either orally [30% (n=6), 15% (n=o), 7.5% (n=o) of 0% (n=6)] or%
IP [30%(n=6), 7.5% (n=6), or (n=6)] administered to fasted rats. 30 min
later, ImL of absolute ethanol was orally administered to these rats and 1 h
later the number and length of gastric linear haemorrhagic lesions were
determined. The results show that both treatments of PD markedly and
significantly impaired the number and the length of gastric lesions. The PD
did not significantly alter the volume, pH, free and total acidity and peptic
activity of the gastric content. But, it caused significant increase in carbohydrate
and mucus content of the gastric mucus layer. This may be the
main mechanism of action of PD. We conclude that PD has potent
gastroprotective action and may be therapeutically useful in the treatment
of 'Amlapitta' in Ayurvedic Medicine in Sri Lanka.
