Abstract
Background:
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder. Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice) and pantoprazole are known for their anti-ulcer properties.

Aim:
To compare the anti-ulcer effects of G. glabra and pantoprazole in albino rats.

Methods:
Healthy adult Wistar albino rats (150–250 g) were acclimatized for 1 week in the department after being obtained from the central animal house and were provided standard food pellets and water ad libitum. Gastric ulcers were induced using aspirin (500 mg/kg orally in 1% carboxymethyl cellulose) and ethanol (1 ml orally). Pantoprazole was administered as the standard drug at a dose of 40 mg/kg, whereas G. glabra was prepared by boiling 10 g of powder in 80 ml of distilled water, with doses of 625 mg/kg or 1.25 g/kg. The drugs were delivered orally via a mouth gag and feeding tube, and the antiulcerogenic effects of G. glabra were compared with pantoprazole in models of aspirin- and ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage.

Results:
In Groups II and VI, treated with the standard drug pantoprazole, exhibited superior antiulcer activity. The test drugs in Groups VII and VIII were comparable to those in Group VI, suggesting potential for future antiulcer applications.

Conclusion:
The results demonstrated that ethanol alone and its combination with G. glabra significantly affected mean scores, with ethanol showing the highest efficacy and Pantoprazole or G. glabra combined with aspirin resulting in markedly lower scores.

Key words: Peptic ulcer disease, Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice), Pantoprazole, Albino rats