Anti-ulcer effects of Trichosanthes fruits.

Anti-ulcer activities of fruits of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maximowicz var. japonica Kitamura (50% ethanolic extract, TKE) were investigated in rats. TKE, at doses of 100-1000 mg/kg, showed potent protection against experimental gastric lesions, namely, those induced by water-immersion, histamine, serotonin, HCl.ethanol, 0.6 N HCl, 0.2 N NaOH, 35% NaCl, and Shay' ulcer and acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer. At doses of 500-1000 mg/kg, TKE decreased the gastric secretion and acid output in pylorus-ligation (for 7 h), but 100 mg/kg of TKE had no influence on the gastric secretion. On the other hand, TKE exerted inhibition on the contractile responses of the isolated ileum of mouse to acetylcholine. These results suggested that TKE has an anti-ulcer effect.