Gastroprotective effects of ethanolic leaf extracts of Matricaria chamomilla L. and Albizia lebbeck L. against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in Wistar rats: modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines.

Indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration involves oxidative stress, inflammation, and impairment of gastric mucosal defense. This study evaluated the gastroprotective effects of ethanolic leaf extracts of Matricaria chamomilla L. (MC) and Albizia lebbeck L. (AL), individually and in combination, in an indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer model in Wistar rats. Animals were randomly divided into 11 experimental groups (n = 6 per group) and treated orally for 10 days with MC or AL (250 or 500 mg/kg), their combinations (total doses of 250 or 500 mg/kg), or ranitidine (50 mg/kg). Gastric injury was assessed by ulcer index, gastric mucus, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, PGE2, and histopathology. HPTLC fingerprinting supported the qualitative presence of rutin in MC and quercetin in AL. Indomethacin increased the ulcer index to 2.24 ± 0.24 and reduced gastric mucus to 1.45 ± 0.23 µg/g. The 500 mg/kg MC + AL combination reduced the ulcer index to 1.02 ± 0.13, increased gastric mucus to 2.66 ± 0.13 µg/g, decreased TBARS to 2.58 ± 0.14 nmol/mg protein, and increased GSH to 353.09 ± 24 µg/mg protein. TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 decreased from 54 ± 3.1, 31 ± 1.6, and 23 ± 1.8 to 17 ± 0.9, 15 ± 0.7, and 7 ± 0.8 pg/mL, respectively, while PGE₂ increased from 11 ± 1.0 to 25 ± 1.4 pg/mL (p < 0.01). Histopathology supported preservation of gastric mucosal architecture. Overall, MC and AL extracts exhibited gastroprotective effects associated with attenuation of oxidative and inflammatory responses and preservation of mucosal defense.