Preparation and Evaluation of Nutraceutical Formulation for Ulcer Healing Activity

Description

Abstract (English)

Herbs, vegetables and fruits are being considered to be the potential source for treating and controlling various ailments.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine thy food” the tenet by Hippocrates is presently receiving great interest. In this
contest the concept of functional food is highly appreciated. Functional foods are “food or food ingredient which provides
both health and nutritional benefits." The purpose of the present study is to formulate and evaluate a formulation containing
nutraceuticals for prevention and treatment of peptic ulcers. Factors like H.pylori infection, consumption of NSAID’s,
alcohol, tumors of the acid producing cells, smoking, chewing tobacco contributes for peptic ulcers. It is affecting millions
of individuals worldwide. Conventional treatment includes the drugs which reduce the rate of gastric acid secretion, drugs
which protects the mucus membrane that lines the GIT or the drugs which eliminates Helicobacter pylori. In most of these
cases adverse reactions and incidence of relapse has been observed. The concern is to introduce safer drugs with maximum
therapeutic effect, without adverse reactions. In the present study a formulation (PHF-1) containing selected functional
foods which acts by various mechanisms to prevent and treat ulcers was developed and evaluated for its efficacy against
ethanol induced gastric ulcers. Antiulcer potential was assessed by determining ulcer index, gastric pH, gastric juice
volume and total acidity. The formulation was found to be on par with standard drug Sucralfate. The findings suggest that
the formulation is worth as an alternative treatment for gastric ulcer.