~ 26 ~ International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2018; 6(1): 26-29 E-ISSN: 2321-2187 P-ISSN: 2394-0514 IJHM 2018; 6(1): 26-29 Received: 06-11-2017 Accepted: 07-12-2017 Ayfer Kamali Polat Department of General Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey Ufuk Karabacak Department of General Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey Yurdanur Sullu Department of Pathology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey Leman Tomak Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey Gokhan Selcuk Ozbalci Department of General Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey Volkan Tumentemur Department of General Surgery, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey Correspondence Ayfer Kamali Polat MD, FACS, General Surgery Department, Ondokuz Mayis University, Atakum Samsun, Turkey Gastro protective effect of Momordica charantia in experimental corrosive gastric ulcer Ayfer Kamali Polat, Ufuk Karabacak, Yurdanur Sullu, Leman Tomak, Gokhan Selcuk Ozbalci and Volkan Tumentemur Abstract The purpose of our study is to assess the gastroprotective effect of Momordica charantia (MC) in gastric ulcer created with corrosive matter. The rats were treated after they were given corrosive matter; in Group 1, MC oil extract gavage (1 ml), and in Group 2 famotidine was given. Group 3 was the control group and did not receive any treatment. In histopathological examination, mucosal necrosis, edema, inflammation were assessed. The healing of corrosive induced gastric ulcer was found increased in treatment groups; ulcer scores were found as 3.6 (range 1-6) in Group 1, 3.7 (range 2-6) in Group 2 and 7.5 (range 6-8) in the control group. In paired comparison, significant difference was found in both treatment groups when compared with the control group in terms of necrosis width, p=0.024 and p=0.019 for Group 1 and 2, respectively. However, no difference was found between treatment groups regarding treatment efficiency (p=0.99). Keywords: Momordica Charantia, gastritis, corrosive, experimental 1. Introduction Momordica Charantia (MC) is an herbaceous climbing annual plant belonged family cucurbitaceae. It bears yellow flowers, the fruit is first green and it becomes yellow-orange as it ripens. It is also known as bitter squash, bitter melon and balsam pear, it is known as “karela” in Asia [1] . MC is a traditional medicine used among the public in many countries including Turkey, India, China, East Africa and South America. Besides being eaten as fruit primarily, especially the extracted unripe fruit is also used in various therapies. Its fruits are used frequently for anti-diabetic purposes because of their hypoglycemic effects. It is traditionally used as antimycotic, antiviral, antibacterial, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anthelmintic, antiemetic, degassing, purgative and it is also used in the treatment of anemia, hypertension, malaria, cholera and liver diseases. MC ripened fruits have been used externally due to their effects in accelerating wound healing and thus, it is claimed to be useful in the healing of leprosy and malign ulcer [2-11] . Peptic ulcer is among the most frequent gastrointestinal diseases in society. It is generally thought to result from a defect in mucosal barrier function. H2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors are mostly used in the treatment. However, its side effects against antisecretory agents, it’s long term free of control usage and ulcer relapses after treatment are still problems. Thus, researches have started for new treatment agents that have less side effects and toxicity and higher efficiency. Especially recently, there has become an increase in the knowledge of products derived from resources that have existed for centuries in traditional medicine and as new anti-ulcer medicine in nature and it is thought that these can be effective as potential bioactive agents. Thus, the purpose of our study is to assess the gastroprotective effect of standardized oil extract of MC in ulcer model created experimentally with corrosive agent. 2. Material and methods: MC Preparation of extracts; yellow-orange MC fruits maturing in August and September are taken and their cores are purified. 500 g olive oil (acidity 0.25- 0.30%) is added to the 500 g sliced fruit. After waiting15 days at room temperature, it is stirred thoroughly and complete dissolution of the fruit provided. Finally, after being rested for 3 days, by making both coarse and fine filtration, The olive oil extract of the MC is obtained (1,2) days later (when completely dispersed in olive oil), the oil was filtered with a small fine sieve and centrifuged, and then only the oily part was prepared for use. Healthy adult male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, which were approximately the same, age and between 150 and 200 g were provided from Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine Laboratory Animals Research Center.