Abstract

ANTIULCER ACTIVITY OF CHLOROFORM EXTRACT OF PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA LINN. LEAVES

Atul Kumar Gangwar*, Ashoke K.Ghosh and  Vikas Saxena

Abstract

Peptic ulcers occur in that part of the gastrointestinal tract which is exposed to gastric acid and pepsin, i.e., the stomach and duodenum. Gastric and duodenal ulcers are common pathologies that may be induced by a variety of factors such as stress, smoking and noxious agents including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Phoenix dactylifera linn. Leaves (Date palm) contain number of chemical constituents, mainly flavonoids. It has been proven already by many scientific studies that flavonoids have ulcer healing properties. In reference to this, we tried assessing the ulcer healing effect of Phoenix dactylifera leaves. The anti-ulcer activity of the leaves of Phoenix dactylifera was studied by pylorus ligation in wistar rats. Chloroform extract of Phoenix dactylifera leaves at two doses, viz., 200 and 400 mg /kg were evaluated by pylorus ligation using Ranitidine (50mg/kg) as standards. The standard drugs and the test drugs were administered orally for 3 days in pylorus ligation method. Gastro protective potential can be measured by the determination of pH, Gastric content, free and total acidity. The results of the present study showed that the chloroform extract of Phoenix dactylifera leaves possessed gastro protective activity as evidenced by its significant inhibition of mean ulcer score and ulcer index and a marked decrease in gastric content, free and total acidity levels and increase in pH in a dose dependant manner. The present experimental findings suggest that leaves of Phoenix dactylifera may be useful for treating peptic ulcers

Keywords: Phoenix dactylifera leaves, Pylorus ligation method, Ranitidine, Ulcer, Flavonoids.