Anti-ulcer and antioxidant activity of Normacid, a herbomineral formulation

Abstract

Effect of various doses (125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, po) of Normacid was studied on gastric secretion and gastric ulcers in pylorus-ligation and on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. The reduction in ulcer index in both the models along with the reduction in total acidity and an increase in the <i>p</i>H<i> </i>of gastric fluid in pylorus-ligated rats proved the

anti-ulcer activity of Normacid. The increase in the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione and membrane bound enzymes like Ca²⁺ATPase, Mg²⁺ATPase and Na⁺K⁺ATPase and decrease in lipid peroxidation in both the models showed the antioxidant activity of the formulation. Thus it can be concluded that the anti-ulcer activity shown by

Normacid may be due to the modulation of defensive factors by improvenent in gastric cytoprotection and partly due to antioxidant property.