Effect of the chloroform extract of tanacetum vulgare and one of its active principles, parthenolide, on experimental gastric ulcer in rats

Abstract This study examines the anti-ulcerogenic activity of a chloroform extract of Tanacetum vulgare and purified parthenolide, the major sesquiterpene lactone found in the extract. Gastric ulcers induced by oral administration of absolute ethanol to rats were reduced dose-dependently by oral pretreatment of animals with the chloroform extract (2.5–80 mg kg−1) or parthenolide (5–40 mgkg−1). When administered 30 min before challenge with the alcohol the protection ranged between 34 and 100% for the extract and 27 and 100% for parthenolide. When the products were administered orally 24h before treatment with ethanol, 40 mg kg−1 of the extract and of the lactone reduced the mean ulcer index…