Peptic ulcer owes its pathological features to dysregulated oxido-nitrosative and necrotic changes in gastrointestinal mucosa. Morin possessed an array of pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Hence, objective of present investigation was to unravel the antiulcer potential of morin in pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcer in laboratory animals. Gastric ulcer was induced in male Wistar rats (180- 200 gm) by ligation of pylorus portion of the stomach. Morin (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) was provided as pretreatment 1 hr prior to pylorus ligation. Volume of gastric fluid, pH of gastric fluid, free acidity were measured whereas ulcer area, ulcer index, mucin content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined in the gastric tissue. Histological evaluation of the stomach was also carried out. Pretreatment with Morin (30 and 100 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) decreased ulcer area, ulcer index and total acidity. It also significantly increased pH of the gastric fluid. Rats treated with Morin (30 and 100 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) attenuated decreased level of SOD and increased level of MDA. It also showed attenuation in histological alteration induced by pylorus ligation. In conclusion, the possible mechanism by which Morin exerts its gastro-protective action may be due to its free radical quenching ability to regulate down elevated oxidative stress.
