Abstract

ABSTRACT The science of life-Ayurveda is practiced in India since time immemorial. Besides being cheap and easily available, Ayurvedic drugs are considered as safe. Moreover, there is surge in the interest in Ayurveda due to quest of alternative medicines. In Ayurvedic system of medicine, Polyherbal formulations were frequently used to enhance the activity or counteract the toxic effect of compounds, from other plants, but may also act synergistically with other constituents from the same plants. Gastro esophageal reflux disease is a disorder of defense mechanism at the esophageal junction, caused by regurgitation of the gastric contents especially of gastric acid. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of Poly Herbal Formulation (PHF) on experimentally induced reflux esophagitis and gastrointestinal motility in animals. The PHF consists of seven medicinal plants namely Aegle marmelos, Elettaria cardamomum, Glycyrrhiza glabra , Citrus aurantifolia, Rosa damascena, Cissus quadrangularis and Saccharum officinarum. Based on acute toxicity study the PHF was considered as safe and 3 dose (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) levels were employed for pharmacological evaluation. The test drugs were administered orally by suspending in 1% carboxy methyl cellulose solution. The PHF exhibited (P<0.001) significant decrease in lesion index and enhance the % protection of lesion in experimentally induced reflux esophagitis at all the 3 doses in rats. In charcoal meal gastrointestinal transit test, PHF dose-dependently propelled the charcoal meal travel through the small intestines in mice. The study indicates that the PHF has protective effect against surgically induced reflux esophagitis.