Evaluation of the Effect of Ethanol Extract of Garlic (allium Sativum) and Tumeric (curcuma Longa) on Gastric Protection and Mechanism of Action in the Rat

This study was carried out to determine and evaluate the effect of ethanol extract of garlic and tumeric on gastric protection and mechanism of action in the rat. Twenty one (21) rats used for this study assigned to three of 7 each. Group one served as control and was administered only feed and water, group 2 was orally administered with ethanol extract of garlic(0.2mg/kg body weight) and group 3 was orally administered turmeric(0.2mg/kg body weight),respectively. The experiment lasted for 30days; two weeks for Acclimatization (only food and water was administered), two weeks for the experiment proper. During this period, Garlic and Turmeric were orally administered respectively mg/kg body weight to the two groups (group 2 and 3) respectively except the control group. The result showed that gastric acid in garlic treated rats in the basal acid secretion group was significantly lower compared to the control group and turmeric group. The result when histamine was introduced in acid secretion showed that there was no significant decrease in the garlic group but there was significant increase in the turmeric group. When cimetidine was introduced; it decreased gastric acid secretion indicating that garlic effect on acid secretion was via histaminergic receptor pathway. The result for mucus secretion showed that garlic significantly increased mucus secretion as compared to the control group which is necessary to enhance protection of the gastric mucosa and turmeric significantly decreased mucus secretion which may be that it destroyed the gastric mucosa by oxidative injury. The result for ulcer score showed that garlic significantly decreased gastric ulceration compared to the control group and the turmeric group. The increased mucus secretion together with the decreased acid secretion May be responsible for the decreased gastric ulceration observed in the garlic treated group. In conclusion, it may be that Garlic is more effective and beneficial than Turmeric in gastric protection