Gastric antisecretory and cytoprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Plumeria alba Linn. leaves in rats.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to evaluate the antiulcerogenic property of hydroalcoholic extract obtained from the leaves of Plumeria alba Linn.


METHODS
Antiulcer assays were performed using the protocols of ulcer induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ethanol and pylorus ligation. The hydroalcoholic extract (HAPA), and various fractions of HAPA like, n-hexane extract (HPA), ethyl acetate extract (EAPA) and n-butanol extract (BPA) were administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg for HAPA and 100 and 200 mg/kg for fractions of extracts. Parameters of gastric secretion (volume, pH, total protein, and free and total acidity) were determined by the pylorus ligation model. Parameters like aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were also determined in ethanol-induced ulcer model. To determine the mechanism of action, role of nitric oxide was also evaluated.


RESULTS
EAPA and BPA (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) showed gastric ulcer-healing effect in indomethacin-induced ulcer model, while HAPA (200 mg/kg) and HPA showed no significant antiulcer effect. Both EAPA and BPA showed gastric cytoprotective effect in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer and inhibited gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study show that some hydroalcoholic extract of Plumeria alba L. displays antiulcer activity, as demonstrated by the significant inhibition of ulcer formation induced by different models, which is consistent with the literature report in folk medicine.
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136119, India.
Manjusha
M
Choudhary
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136119, India; E-mail: vipbharwaj@rediffmail.com.
Vipin
V
Kumar
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India.
Surender
S
Singh
D000818:Animals; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents