Anti-gastric ulcer effect of Kaempferia parviflora

Kaempferia parviflora is a Zingiberaceous plant, which has been reputed for its beneficial medicinal effects. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the Kaempferia parviflora ethanolic extract (KPE) for its anti-gastric ulcer activity by experimental models. Oral administration of the KPE at 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg significantly inhibited gastric ulcer formation induced by indomethacin, HCl/EtOH and water immersion restraint-stress in rats. In pylorus-ligated rats, pretreatment with the KPE had no effect on gastric volume, pH and acidity output. In ethanol-induced ulcerated rats, gastric wall mucus was significantly preserved by the KPE pretreatment at doses of 60 and 120 but not at 30 mg/kg. The findings indicate that the ethanolic extract of Kaempferia parviflora possesses gastroprotective potential which is related partly to preservation of gastric mucus secretion and unrelated to the inhibition of gastric acid secretion. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.