Gastric ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by disruption of gastric mucosal integrity due to an imbalance between aggressive factors such as gastric acid, ethanol, oxidative stress, and inflammatory mediators and defensive mechanisms including mucus secretion, bicarbonate production, and antioxidant protection. The present study was designed to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of Terminalia chebula Retz. extract against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Healthy Wistar rats were divided into five groups, including normal control, ethanol-induced ulcer control, standard drug-treated group, and Terminalia chebula extract-treated groups. Gastric ulceration was induced by oral administration of absolute ethanol, and the protective effect of the extract was evaluated by assessing ulcer index, gastric juice volume, gastric pH, free acidity, total acidity, and oxidative stress parameters. Ethanol administration produced significant gastric mucosal injury, characterized by increased ulcer index, gastric juice volume, free acidity, total acidity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, along with decreased gastric pH and reduced antioxidant enzyme levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH). Pretreatment with Terminalia chebula extract significantly attenuated ethanol-induced gastric damage by reducing ulcer severity, decreasing gastric acidity, lowering MDA levels, and restoring antioxidant defense mechanisms in a dose-dependent manner. The higher dose of the extract exhibited marked gastroprotective activity comparable to the standard antiulcer drug.

The protective effect of Terminalia chebula Retz. may be attributed to the presence of bioactive phytoconstituents such as tannins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, chebulagic acid, chebulinic acid, gallic acid, and ellagic acid, which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mucosal protective properties. The study demonstrates that Terminalia chebula possesses significant gastroprotective potential and may serve as a promising herbal candidate for the management of gastric ulcer associated with oxidative stress and gastric mucosal injury.