Protective effects of Banhasasim-tang, a herbal medicine, against cold restraint stress-induced gastric ulcers

• Published in: Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences 2022-01, Vol.35 (1), p.9-13
• Main Authors: Kim, Mi Hye, Lee, Sun Haeng, Hwang, Do Young, Park, Yun Bum, Ham, Sung Ho, Yang, Woong Mo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Diagnosis; Medicine, Botanic; Medicine, Herbal; Risk factors; Stomach ulcer; Testing
• ISSN: 1011-601X
• DOI: 10.36721/PJPS.2022.35.1.REG.009-013.1

Banhasasim-tang (BST), a herbal medicine, has been used for nausea and fever from cold damage. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of BST in cold restraint stress-induced gastric ulcers. Male Sprague Dawley rats were orally treated with various doses of BST including 0.25, 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18g/kg based on the human daily intake dose. After treatment once per day for 3 days, rats were restrained into the cold stress chamber for 12h at 4°C to induce gastric ulcers. Gastric hemorrhagic ulcer area was evaluated and serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone, epinephrine and dopamine levels were determined. Compared to cold stress-induced gastric ulcer rats, hemorrhage ulcer areas were reduced in BST-treated stomach tissues at all concentrations. Increased serum ACTH, corticosterone and epinephrine levels were significantly decreased by BST treatment in cold stress-induced gastric ulcer rats. Moreover, there were increments of serum dopamine levels in 3 and 6g/kg of BST-treated groups. Taken together, BST positively ameliorated cold restraint stress-induced gastric hemorrhage with decrease in serum stress-related biomarkers such as ACTH, corticosterone, epinephrine and dopamine. The 3-6-fold of human daily intake dose of BST exhibited protective effects as a herbal medicine for gastric ulcers.