title: Gastric antisecretory and cytoprotective effects of leaf extracts of Amaranthus tricolor Linn. in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was aimed to evaluate the antiulcer activity of leaf extracts of Amaranthus tricolor Linn. (Amaranthaceae) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of A. tricolor leaves on gastric secretion and the effect of gastric cytoprotection were evaluated using five different models of gastric ulcers: acetic acid-induced, pylorus ligation-induced, ethanol-induced, indomethacin-induced and ischemia-reperfusion-induced gastric ulcers. The different extracts, namely, ethanolic extract (EAT), petroleum ether extract (PEAT), chloroform extract (CAT) and ethyl acetate extract (EAAT) of A. tricolor leaves were administered at a dose of 200 mg/kg per oral (p.o.).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The acute oral toxicity study revealed that all the extracts were safe up to 2 000 mg/kg, p.o; hence one-tenth of this dose was selected for evaluation of antiulcer activity. The EAT and EAAT (200 mg/kg, p.o.) showed gastric ulcer-healing effect in acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcers. The EAT and EAAT inhibited gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats and showed gastric cytoprotective effect in ethanol-induced and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers, while PEAT and CAT showed no significant antiulcer effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The leaf extracts of A. tricolor are found to possess very good antiulcer property in the experimental animal models of gastric ulcers which is consistent with the literature report in folk medicine.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Bioneeds Laboratory Animals and Preclinical Services, Bangalore, India. devcology@yahoo.com
authors: Venkatapura C
authors: VC
authors: Devaraj
authors: Burdipad G
authors: BG
authors: Krishna
mesh_terms: D027721:Amaranthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013270:Stomach / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts