Aqueous suspension of anise “Pimpinella anisum” protects rats against chemically induced gastric ulcers

AIM： To substantiate the claims of Unani and Arabian traditional medicine practitioners on the gastroprotective potential effect of a popular spice anise, ＂Pimpinella anisum L.＂ on experimentally-induced gastric ulceration and secretion in rats. METHODS： Acute gastric ulceration in rats was produced by various noxious chemicals including 80% ethanol, 0.2 mol/L NaOH, 25% NaCI and indomethacin. Anti-secretory studies were undertaken using pylorusligated Shay rat technique. Levels of gastric non-protein sulfhydryls （NP-SH） and wall mucus were estimated and gastric tissue was also examined histologically. Anise aqueous suspension was used in two doses （250 and 500 mg/kg body weight） in all experiments. RESULTS： Anise significantly inhibited gastric mu- cosal damage induced by necrotizing agents and indomethacin. The anti-ulcer effect was further confirmed histologically. In pylorus-ligated Shay rats, anise suspension significantly reduced the basal gastric acid secretion, acidity and completely inhibited the rumenal ulceration. On the other hand, the suspension significantly replenished ethanol-induced depleted levels of gastric mucosal NP-SH and gastric wall mucus concentration. CONCLUSION： Anise aqueous suspension possesses significant cytoprotective and anti-ulcer activities against experimentallynduced gastric lesions. The anti-ulcer effect of anise is possibly prostaglandin-mediated and/orthrough its anti-secretory and antioxidative properties.

The Effect of the Supplemental Different Levels of Anise Seeds （Pimpinella anisum） in Diet on Broiler Performance

This experiment was conducted at the poultry farm, poultry research station, state board of agriculture research, ministry of agriculture to study the effect of supplemental anise seed on broiler diets. A total of 640 of one-day old unsexed broiler chicks （Cobb） were used in this study. They were randomly distributed to four treatments. Anise seeds were supplemented at the levels of 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% compared with the control group for 49 days. The results showed： there was a significant （P 〈 0.05） increase in the rate of body weight for the two treatments 0.6% and 0.4% of the anise seeds compared with 0.2% and control treatments, body weight gain take the same direction, like in body weight, the highest treatment was 0.6% followed by treatment 0.4% as well as the feed consumption has increased in these treatments than in 0.2% and control treatments, so about feed conversion ratio the treatment 0.6% of the anise seeds recorded the best feed conversion ratio compared with other treatments. Significant decreased in mortality and significant increased in production index by increasing the level of anise seeds in feed. Dressing percentage increased significantly for all treatments using anise seeds and treatment 0.6% recorded highest dressing percentage, from the other hand percentage of abdominal fat decreased significantly by increasing anise seed levels and no significant difference in the percentages of liver, gizzard and heart were recorded in this study. About carcass cuts, the weights of primary cuts （thigh, drum stick, breast） relative to body weight recorded significant increase in the treatments using anise seeds at the expense of secondary cuts （neck, wings, back）. There was a significant decline （P 〈 0.05） for total bacterial （E. coli and Staphylococci） in small intestine in all level of anise seeds （0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%） in ration while the decline of two types of bacteria in colon recorded in 0.4% and 0.6% treatments compared with 0.2~/0 and control treatments. Conclude from this study the possibility of using anise seeds at all levels used in the experiment and the best level that can be used to get the best performance of the positive results of broiler chickens is 0.6%.