title: Methanol extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaf possesses anti-ulcer activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-ulcer activity of a methanol extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaf (MEBP).
  
  
  METHODS
  MEBP was administered at doses of 100, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg and its effects on acute toxicity, absolute ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration, and pyloric ligation tests in rats were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At a dose of 5,000 mg/kg, MEBP did not cause any signs of toxicity in rats when given orally. Oral administration of MEBP exerted anti-ulcer activity (p < 0.05) in all models tested. However, a dose-dependent protection was observed only in the indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration model. Histological studies supported the observed anti-ulcer activity of MEBP. In the pyloric ligation assay, MEBP significantly increased gastric wall mucus secretion (p < 0.05), but did not affect the acidity of the gastric contents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MEBP exhibited anti-ulcer activity, which could be due to the presence of flavonoids, saponins or other polyphenols, thereby validating the traditional use of B. purpurea in the treatment of ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. zaz@medic.upm.edu.my
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Abdul Hisam
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norhafizah
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rofiee
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Othman
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hasiah
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasudevan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036481:Bauhinia; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced; D014456:Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009853:Omeprazole; D007213:Indomethacin; D000432:Methanol