Standardization and evaluation of the antiulcer potential of a traditional polyherbal formulation in experimental animals

Safoof Muqliyasa (SM) is a traditional polyherbal formulation reported in the classical Unani literature to treat the ulcerative condition of the gastrointestinal tract; however, its efficacy has to be established through scientific validation.The present study aims to standardise SM and evaluate its antiulcer activity in indomethacin and ethanol-induced peptic ulcers in rats.Standardisation of SM was carried through pharmacognostical evaluation, HPTLC analysis, and safety parameter evaluation.The preventive effect of SM in rat models of peptic ulcers induced by indomethacin and ethanol was tested at the dose of 250, 500, or 1000 mg/kg once daily for seven consecutive days, in comparison to ranitidine (50 mg/kg, p.o.) as standard drug.Outcome measures were ulcer score, per cent inhibition, and ulcer index.The obtained data was statistically analysed using GraphPad Prism 10 software.SM was standardised as per pharmacopoeial SOP's.In animal studies, SM-250 mg/kg and SM-1000 mg/kg showed significant protection against indomethacin-induced peptic ulceration in rats (51.8% and 52.1%, respectively) and SM-500 mg/kg (33.8%) while ranitidine showed 86% ulcer protection.In the ethanol-induced peptic ulcer model, ranitidine showed 75.72% protection against ulceration, however, none of the tested doses of SM provides any remarkable protection.Standardised SM may be beneficial for gastric ulcers and may specifically be co-administered with NSAIDs where long-term indication of NSAIDs is inevitable.