Pharmacological effects of aqueous-ethanolic extract of Hibiscus rosasinensis on volume and acidity of stimulated gastric secretion.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of extract of Hibiscus rosasinensis (H. rosasinensis) on the volume, free and total acidity of gastric secretion induced by carbachol. METHODS: Animals were kept on fasting for 48 h, then the pylorus of each animal was ligated. They were randomly divided into 5 groups and treated by carbachol at 600 µg/kg. Then animals in group II - V were treated by H. rosasinensis extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, cimetidine at 2.5 mg/kg and verapamil at 10 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally, respectively. The volume, free and total acidity of gastric secretion were observed and compared. RESULTS: It was found that the extract significantly reduced the volume, free and total acidity of gastric secretion (P<0.01). These reductions were comparable to cimetidine and verapamil. And the reduction in the volume and free acidity were more significant in cimetidine and verapamil treated group indicating that cimetidine and verapamil were more effective. CONCLUSIONS: The extract of H. rosasinensis can reduced the volume, free and total acidity of gastric secretion, and can be used effectively in the treatment of peptic ulcer.