Healing and Antisecretory Effects of Aqueous Extract of Eremomastax speciosa (Acanthaceae) on Unhealed Gastric Ulcers

Figure 2

Histological presentation of stomach sections of “unhealed gastric ulcers” (H&E, ×100). (a) Stomach section of control nonulcerated rats with intact gastric glands (G), annular muscles (AM), and longitudinal muscles (LM). (b) Section in ulcerated rats sacrificed on day 5 after ulcer induction, showing an ulcer crater with complete destruction of glands at the center (D). The desquamated glandular detritus can be seen lying in the lumen, with pockets of edema (E) and fibrosis (F) and leucocyte infiltration (I). (c) Ulcerated rats that were given the vehicle and indomethacin for 2 weeks; the process of autohealing is depicted by glandular regrowth and reduced presence of desquamated material. (d–f) Ulcerated rats that were given the extract or sucralfate plus indomethacin for 2 weeks; sections show significant reestablishment of gastric glands at 200 mg/g of extract and advanced reepithelialization and compact glands for extract (400 mg/kg) and sucralfate.

(a) Healthy control

(b) 4th-day control

(c) Vehicle control

(d) Extract at 200 mg/kg

(e) Extract at 400 mg/kg

(f) Sucralfate