Protective Effect of a Polyherbal Traditional Formula Consisting of Mill., L. And DC., Against Ethanol-induced Gastric Ulcer.

"VARD" formula consisting of Mill. (Rosaceae) petals, and rhizomes of L. (Papilionaceae) and DC. (Valerianaceae), has been proposed for gastric ulcer in Iranian traditional medicine. We investigated the antiulcer activity of each plant separately and in combination. The biochemical and molecular functions of extracts were also evaluated. Each plant hydroalcoholic extract was standardized via determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, also via some phenolic compounds determination and specially glycyrrhizic acid in by using HPLC. Rats received orally extracts of the plants (20, 40 and 80 mg/Kg) and "VARD" (45 mg/Kg) 1 h before ethanol administration. Two h after receiving ethanol, animals were sacrificed; the stomach was removed for macroscopic and microscopic assessment. Also heme-oxygenase-1, glutathione, and catalase were measured in the gastric tissue of the rats pretreated by "VARD" and dose of 20 mg/Kg of extracts. Among three extracts, and contained more total phenolic and flavonoid content respectively. Gallic acid was prominent compound in The extracts of , , and significantly decreased ulcer index. ED values were 8.2, 31.86 and 25.08 mg/Kg respectively. "VARD" significantly decreased ulcer index compared to 20 mg/Kg of ( < 0.0001) and ( < 0.001). Pretreatment with "VARD" and each plant extracts (20 mg/Kg) increased glutathione, catalse and heme-oxygenase-1 significantly ( < 0.05 in comparison with control group. Our findings indicate that "VARD" partly via antioxidant activity can be considered as an effective antiulcer formula.