Indian Journal of Pharmacology Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Pharmacological Society ISSN: 0253-7613 EISSN: 1998-3751 Vol. 38, Num. 3, 2006, pp. 216-216

Indian Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 38, No. 3, May-June, 2006, pp. 216

Correspondence

Exploring Indian medicinal plants for antiulcer activity

Balakrishnan V

Department of Gastroenterology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin - 682 026
Correspondence Address:Department of Gastroenterology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin - 682 026, vbalakrishnan@aims.amrita.edu

Code Number: ph06058

Related articles: ph06025

We read with interest the article "Exploring Indian medicinal plants for anti ulcer activity" (Indian J Pharmacol 2006; 38: 95-99). We had studied at the Medical College, Trivandrum, properties of nimbidine, the bitter amorphous, neutral powder isolated from the oil expressed from the seed kernels of Azadirachta indica (neem) in animals as well as in humans with duodenal ulcer. It reduced the incidence and severity of histamine and cysteamine induced duodenal ulcers in guinea pigs and accelerated the healing of gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid in rats and dogs.[1] It also significantly reduced the gastric lesions produced by aspirin and indomethacin[2] at doses of 20-40 mg/kg, p.o. At 40 and 80 mg/kg it showed remarkable protection in chemically induced duodenal lesions in rats. Nimbidine was devoid of toxicity even at a dose of 100 mg/kg orally for 12 weeks and 1 g/kg intraperitoneally in rats.

Further, in 18 patients with endoscopy proven duodenal ulcers, nimbidine was administered in capsules, 300 mg daily (60 mg thrice daily with food and 120 mg at night) for eight weeks.[3] All the patients became symptom-free in 2 to 4 weeks and endoscopic healing of ulcer occurred in 16 (89%) of the 18 patients within 8 weeks, results comparable to that of other modern antiulcer drugs. There were no haematological, hepatic, renal, cardiac or other side effects.[3]

It was also shown in this study that the action of nimbidine was mainly antisecretory.[4] [Table - 1]

Reduction of the MAO (after histamine) occurred without any change in the BAO, showing thereby that the antiulcer activity of nimbidine is mainly through its antisecretory effect. Pepsin and hexosamine secretions were not suppressed by the drug.

References

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