Curative Effects of Triphala Extract against Swim Stress-In- duced Gastric Ulcers via Reduced Ulcer Index, Strengthened Gastric Mucosa and Improved Redox State in Rats

Recently, the percentage of Peptic ulcer disease not linked to either Helicobacter pylori or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has increased and signifies the prominent role of psychophysiological stress in the establishment and advancements of gastric ulcers and other peptic ulcer diseases. The current study was intended not only to develop post-treatment swim stress-induced peptic ulcer disease rat model but also to analyze the curative effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Triphala in swim stress-induced peptic ulcer disease model. A post-treatment swim stress-induced peptic ulcer disease rat model was developed followed by therapeutic intervention of hydro-alcoholic extract of Triphala. The gross evaluation of gastric tissues showed that swim stress induces significant gastric ulcers in rats that could clearly be observed after 21 d of self-healing. Further, the findings of our interventional investigations revealed that hydro-alcoholic extract of Triphala exerts significant gastro-protective activity in swim stress-induced peptic ulcer disease via decreasing the ulcer index and increasing the protective gastric mucus content, whereas, the level/activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione and malondialdehyde were also ameliorated after the administration of Triphala extract in experimental peptic ulcer disease model. In addition, the findings from our biochemical investigations are also well corroborated by histopathological observations. In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that swim-stress results in the development of gastric ulcers and damages the gastric mucosa along with the altered redox homeostasis in rats and Triphala extract exerts significant curative effects in post- treatment swim-stress-induced peptic ulcer disease rat model and may later be investigated and promoted for human clinical applications.