These findings were consistent with earlier reports on piroxicam induced gastric ulcer ([7] and [15]). Increase in lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation by 2.16 folds and 5.57 folds from control levels respectively resulted in increased

consumption of glutathione. A significant increase in GSSG-GSH ratio in piroxicam–administered animals by 4.3 folds (P≤0.001 Vs control) from control value established that glutathione HDAC inhibitor consumption has markedly increased under stress conditions. Decrease in non-protein sulphydyrl compounds on piroxicam administration significantly indicates that such compounds might have been used in recycling endogenous antioxidants. Therefore, the findings support that antioxidant rich aqueous curry leaf extract can be immensely beneficial in suppressing oxidative damages in gastric tissue biomacromolecules like lipids and proteins through its direct free radical scavenging effects or some indirect antioxidant actions. Significant decreases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes like gastric peroxidise and glutathione S-transferase and increase in the activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidise,

catalase and superoxide dismutases indicate a growing imbalance in oxidants and antioxidants in gastric tissues after piroxicam administration. Aqueous curry leaf extract at 200 mg/kg BW dose protected against any such piroxicam induced alterations in activities of antioxidant enzymes. This well indicates that aqueous leaf extract has potentially scavenged the free radicals generated in vivo eliminating all adverse effects. This might GKT137831 have restored the oxidant-antioxidant balance in the stomach. Activities of mitochondrial Kreb’s cycle enzyme and electron

transport chain enzymes showed significant fall further supporting the fact that oxidative stress burden is the causative factor of gastro-mucosal PAK5 erosion and bleeding. This finding indicates that building up of a reducing environment in the stomach results in accumulation of excess electrons that in turn generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) like superoxide anion radicals, hydroxyl radical etc. Free superoxide anion radicals and hydroxyl radicals have been indicated to be the major contributing factors in piroxicam and similar NSAIDs induced gastropathy and gastric ulcer. One study has clearly emphasized hydroxyl radical to be the principal causative agent in piroxicam mediated gastric ulcer (Bandyopadhyat et al., 2001). In our present study we found that aqueous curry leaf extract is capable of scavenging free radicals. In vivo hydroxyl radical titre decreased significantly in rats pre-treated with aqueous curry leaf extract. Superoxide anion radical status determined indirectly by studying the activities of the pro-oxidant enzymes xanthine oxidase and xanthine dehydrogenase showed similar results.