Effect of Trigonella foenum gracecum ( Fenugreek ) Seed Extract in Experimentally Induced Gastric Ulcer in Wistar Rats

Background: Trigonella foenum graceum (Fenugreek) seeds are commonly used in India as traditional medicine for Diabetes, Dysmenorrhea, lactation and arthritis. The gastro-protective role of Fenugreek seeds are yet to be explored. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Fenugreek seed extract in Indomethacin induced gastric ulcer models. Materials and Methods: Albino wistar rats were divided into five groups with eight animals in each. Gastric ulcer was induced using Indomethacin 20 mg/Kg. Fenugreek at dose of 200 mg/Kg and 400 mg/Kg was administered to group III, IV and group V received Rantidine 30 mg/Kg. Ulcer index, volume of gastric juice and acidity was estimated. To study the anti-oxidant property the level of catalase, SOD, GST and T. Bars were done. Results: Fenugreek treated group III showed a significant decrease in ulcer index, volume of gastric juice and acidity when compared to control positive group II. Oxidative enzyme study indicated a significant increase in Catalase, SOD and GSH value in treated group when compared with control positive group II and significant decrease in T. Bars value in treated group. Conclusion: Fenugreek seed extract has both gastro-protective and Anti-oxidant property.

from parietal cells of stomach.It reduces lipid peroxidation which plays major role in inflammation of gastric mucosa.] But their role as an antiulcer agent is not adequately studied.Thus the current study is proposed to evaluate the effect of Trigonelle foenum graceum seed extract on experimentally induced gastric ulcer in Wistar rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty wistar albino rats weighing 130-150 g were used in the study.The study was approved by Institutional Animal Ethical Committee.Animals were housed at a temperature of 24±2⁰C and relative humidity of 30-70%.The animals were fed with staple pellet diet from Hindustan Lever Ltd., Mumbai.Fenugreek seeds were obtained from agricultural market center; it was identified and authenticated by Botanical survey of India, Southern regional Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu.Rantidine tablets were purchased from Glaxo Smithkine Ltd.Each tablet contained 150mg of Ratidine hydrochloride.It was dissolved in distilled water at dose of 30mg/Kg and was administered orally with the help of gastric tube.
Pharmacognosy Journal, Vol 10, Issue 6, Nov-Dec, 2018 Preparation of Fenugreek seed aqueous Extract About 25g of fenugreek seed were crushed and powdered.Fenugreek seed powder was extracted with 500ml of boiling distilled water for about 5 min.The decoction was allowed to cool for 30 min then subjected to double filtration and stored in refrigerator.

Screening of antiulcer property
The Albino wistar rats were fed with basal diet and observed for normal activities.The rats were divided as at random into five groups with eight rats in each.Normal control group was fed on pellet diet and water at libidum.The other four groups were given oral dose of indomethacin 20mg/kg in 0.1% tween 80 solutions to induce gastric ulcer.The four groups were divided as treated and non-treated groups.The non-treated group received intragastric administration of only indomethacin.The other three treated group received fenugreek seed extract 200mg/kg orally, fenugreek extract 400mg/kg orally and Rantidine 30mg/kg orally.After six weeks of study blood samples were collected for estimation of hemoglobin and packed cell.The rats were sacrificed.The gastric juice was collected by ligating the pyloric and fundic end of the stomach.3ml of distilled water was injected then the gastric juice was collected in the test tube and subjected to centrifuge for 500rpm for 5 min.The total acidity of gastric juice and volume was measured using a graduated cylinder. 6The decrease in gastric juice volume was calculated using the formula by Pasrmar and Desai. 7rcentage of decrease in gastric juice The stomach were opened along the greater curvature and washed with saline.The length of each gastric ulcer was measured to determine the ulcer Index (UI) and curvature ratio, 7 Depending on the severity of gastric mucosal lesion they scaled from 1-3; 1= less than 1mm, 2= 1 to 2 mm, 3= greater than 2mm. the overall total was divided by factor of 10, which was designated as Ulcer index.The mucosa of glandular stomach was removed by scraping with knife and 10% homogenate was prepared for estimation of antioxidants-Glutathione (GSH) by Moron et al. 8 T Bars by Ohkawa et al. 9 Catalase by Aebi HE 10 and Superoxidase dismutase by Mc Cord and Fridovich. 11

Statistical Analysis
Data was collected and analyzed using IBM statistical package for social science (SPSS) software version 21.The data's were presented in mean± standard deviation and "t" test was used for statistical significance.

RESULTS
A total of 40 albino wistar rats were selected.

DISCUSSION
The study clearly shows that Indomethacin; a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug has induced gastric ulcer in the rodent model.3][14] Adding on to     it indomethacin also decreases antioxidant enzymes like Catalase, SOD and GST in the rat stomach.Understanding the ulcer inducing agents might be of utmost relevance in designing new antiulcer agents.Synthetic drugs are more susceptible for high toxicity and exorbitant cost, exploiting natural products which are less toxic, more affordable and efficacious can be more appropriate choice in treatment of gastric ulcer.Fenugreek is used as both herb and spice in wider parts of India.Fenugreek seeds are commonly used for arthritis, acid reflex disorders, lactation, dysmenorrhea, breast engorgement, bronchial asthma, labour induction and treating hormonal disorders (Figure 4).Fenugreek seeds possess hypoglycemic effects by stimulating insulin synthesis and increasing the sensitivity of tissues to available insulin.The characteristic property is to reduce blood sugar level without the risk of developing severe hypoglycemia. 15Study by Kumari and Sinha showed that high fiber fenugreek diet is effective in management of diabetes. 16Bhatia et al. proved the protective effect of fenugreek on lipid peroxidation and on enzymic antioxidants. 17] Fenugreek seed extract prevented the risk of lipid peroxidation by enhancing antioxidant potential of gastric mucosa which can be linked to its gastro-protective effect. 20The study by Nirajan Ghosal et al. proved gastro-protective effect of fenugreek enriched fraction against indomethacin induced gastric ulcer was by increasing the quantity and quality of mucin secretions. 21The current study clearly shows the effect of Fenugreek as antiulcer agents.The polysaccharide composition of fenugreek seeds forms a mucin like layer on the surface of gastric mucosa and acts as a barrier against the ulcer inducing agents and the exposure of endogenously formed acid and pepdin. 22Brinal et al. stated that the crucial target for the fenugreek seeds by in silico analysis method was to antagonize H + K + ATPase pump and produce gastro-protective effect. 23Kheirandish et al. showed that oral administration of fenugreek seeds extract could protect intestinal mucosa against experimentally induced intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injuries in rats. 24n the current study hemoglobin and packed cell volume was maintained in fenugreek treated group when compared to control positive group were it was reduced.Fenugreek seed extracts are rich in polyphenol which protects the erythrocyte from oxidative damages. 25The present study results showed that gastric tissue damage and ulceration was produced due to Indomethacin effect.Fenugreek administration has resulted in protection against Indomethacin induced gastric damage through its antioxidant property and by reducing ulcer index, volume of gastric juice and acidity.This proves its efficiency as an antiulcer agent against Indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in rodent models.The major limitation of the study was that the studied was not extended to study the toxicities of fenugreek seed.Thus future research can add up to make fenugreek seed extract to become an effective antiulcer agent to treat NSAID induced gastric ulcer.Researches can also be extended to expect the full potential of fenugreek in the treatment of other types of gastric ulcer.

CONCLUSION
Fenugreek seed extract is rich in polyphenol which protects the erythrocyte from oxidative damage and maintains the hemoglobin and PCV values.The present study showed the potential therapeutic effects of fenugreek seed extract in Indomethacin induced gastric ulcer by its antioxidant and gastro-protective property.
juice in control positive ×100

L
Length of gastric uler in treated groupLength of gastric ulcer in con ntrol positive group ×100

Figure 4 :
Figure 4: Traditional medical uses of Fenugreek seeds around the world.

Figure 2 :
Figure 2: Volume of gastric juice of each animal in all five groups.
They were divided into five groups; group I-normal control group, group II-drug induced non treated group, groups III, IV-drug induced fenugreek treated groups and group V-drug induced Rantidine treated group.Data in Table1indicated the initial and final weight of the rats.Figure1illustrated the percentage of weight gain which were significantly decreased at p<0.01 in control positive group III compared with normal control group I. Group III,IV and V should a significant increase in final weight and weight gain compared with control positive group II.Figure2shows that the volume of gastric juice was significantly increased in control (+) group II at P<0.001 compared with normal control group I.The results in Table2showed the various properties of gastric ulcer.The total acidity of gastric juice was significantly increased in control positive group II at p<0.001 when compared to normal control group I.The total acidity of gastric juice of group III, IV and V significantly decreased at p<0.001 when compared with control positive group II.The volume of gastric juice, total acidity and gastric ulcer index were significantly decreased in treated groups III, IV and V when compared with untreated control positive group II The result depicted by Figure3shows the values of oxidative enzyme studies.It clearly indicates that the values of catalase, superoxidase dismutase, gastric glutathione were significantly increased in treated group III, IV and V when compared to untreated control positive group II at p<0.001.The value of T. Bars was significantly decreased in treated group III, IV and V when compared with untreated control positive group II at p<0.001.
Data of Table3displays the blood hemoglobin and packed cell value.It is evident that control positive group II shows a significant decrease in hemoglobin and PCV values when compared with treated group III, IV and V at p<0.001.