Evaluation of antiulcer activity of diltiazem in rats

Background: The risk factors for patients with cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal diseases overlap. Majority of the patients have both problems coexistent. Thus, there is need of medicine that can be used for both the diseases.Methods: Rats weighing 150-250gm of either gender were procured for the study from central animal house. The animals were divided into 7 groups. Control group (Distilled water 2ml), diclofenac sodium (12mg/kg), diltiazem (10mg/kg), diltiazem (30mg/kg), diltiazem (60mg/kg), ranitidine (8mg/kg), ranitidine (16mg/kg). After six hours, scarification of animals was done by cervical dislocation. Size of ulcer, number of gastric ulcers, mean gastric irritancy index, ulcer index, and ulcer scoring were the parameters that were studied.Results: Diltiazem in dose of 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg showed reduction in all parameters in dose dependent manner. Diltiazem (60mg/kg) showed marked reduction in mean diameter of ulcerated surface area (0.46±0.36), number of ulcers (4.10±2.05), size of ulcers (1.07±0.48), total mucosal surface area (7.60±1.38), and total ulcerated surface area (0.263±0.3). Diltiazem (60mg/kg) showed significant reduction of the parameters as compared to other doses of Diltiazem. Also, diltiazem (60mg/kg) was comparable to Ranitidine in all the parameters. Diltiazem (60mg/kg) also showed reduction in average number of ulcers, ulcer index, mean gastric irritancy index and ulcer scoring as compared to diclofenac sodium (12mg/kg).Conclusions: Diltiazem has shown to have ulcer prevention property; this can be useful in patients having concomitant cardiovascular and gastrointestinal problems