Antiulcer activity of aqueous extract of leaves of Mentha piperita in Wistar rats

Because many people in the world suffer from gastroduodenal ulcers, therefore, studying the therapeutic strategies of these ulcers are research priorities in any country. The aim of the new study was to survey the preventive property of aqueous extract of Mentha piperita on ethanol-induced gastroduodenal ulcers in rats. In this study, 60 rats were used. The rodents were randomly divided into six subgroups, including negative healthy control receiving distilled water, untreated negative control receiving distilled water, positive control receiving omeprazole 60 mg/kg, and three groups receiving the aqueous extract of M. piperita at 20, 60, and 180 mg/kg concentrations. After 14 days, gastroduodenal ulcers were caused by ethanol. Four hours after oral administration of ethanol, the rats were dissected and blood, stomach, and duodenum samples of them collected for hematological, biochemical, and gross parameter analysis. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan post hoc test. Different doses of M. piperita could significantly ( p ≤ 0.05) decrease the raised levels of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride, total and conjugated bilirubin, urea, and creatinine, and enhance HDL, total protein, albumin, WBC, platelet, RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, and MCHC as compared to the untreated group. Also, the extract prevented significantly ( p ≤ 0.05) small, medium, and large gastroduodenal ulcers as compared to the untreated group. In conclusion, it seems that the aqueous extract of M. piperita can prevent gastroduodenal ulcers in rats without any side effect.