Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is used in
folk medicine for treatment of stomach disorders including
peptic ulcers. The hydroalcoholic extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (HEGG) was evaluated for antiulcerogenic activity and acute toxicity profile in mice. Various doses of HEGG (50-200 mg/kg) were administered orally to animals of different groups.
Omeprazole and
cimetidine at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg were used as positive controls, respectively. Stomach was opened along the greater curvature then ulceration index was determined examining the inner lining of stomach.
Oral administration of the extract at 1600 mg/kg did not produce toxic symptoms and mortality in mice. 2950 mg/kg was determined as the oral LD50. The HEGG (50-200 mg/kg) showed a significant reduction in
ulcer index in HCl/
Ethanol-induced
ulcer. G. glabra extract (50-150 mg/kg) showed antiulcer activity against
indomethacin-induced gastric lesions dose dependently. The extract effectively inhibited formation of gastric lesions induced by
ethanol. The extract (200 mg/kg) was more potent than
omeprazole (30 mg/kg). HEGG reduced the
ulcer index in hypothermic stress induced
gastric ulcers in mice and the antiulcer effect was comparable to that of
cimetidine. The results indicated that G. glabra hydroalcoholic extract exerted an antiulcergenic effect that could be associated with increase in gastric mucosal defensive factors.