title: Anti-ulcer activity of Ficus religiosa leaf ethanolic extract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the anti-ulcer activity and acute toxicity of Ficus religiosa (F. religiosa) leaf ethanolic extract in animal models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anti-ulcer activity of F. religiosa ethanolic extract (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) was studied on stress induced ulcer animal models. Ranitidine was used as standard. The anti-ulcer activity of F. religiosa was evaluated with the help of ulcer area and histopatholgical examination. Preliminary phyto-chemical screening and acute toxicity studies of F. religiosa also carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that the extract treatments prevented ulcer area and gastric secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Administration of 2 000 mg/kg extract did not show any acute toxicity in albino mice. Preliminary phytochemical analysis identified the presence of flavonoids in the ethanolic extract of F. religiosa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extract is non-toxic even at relatively high concentrations. The anti-ulcer activity is probably due to the presence of flavanoids.
authors.affiliation: Department of pharmacology, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India.
authors.forename: Marslin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Divya
authors.forename: Revina Ann
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mary
authors.forename: M M Hipolith
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Viji
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Kalaichelvan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Palanivel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D030681:Ficus; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011899:Ranitidine
keywords: Ethanolic extract; Ficus religiosa; Flavonoids; Ranitidne; Ulcer area