Abstract

A STUDY ON ANTI-ULCER ACTIVITY OF STEM EXTRACTS OF CUSCUTA REFLEXA (ROXB) AGAINST PYLORUS LIGATION INDUCED GASRTIC ULCER IN RATS

Dev Prakash, Nishant Singh Katiyar* and Amrit Pal Singh

Abstract

To evaluate in-vivo antiulcer potential of crude extracts of the indigenous medicinal plant, Cuscuta reflexa, belonging to family Convolvulaceae. The effect of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Cuscuta reflexa was investigated in rats to evaluate the anti-ulcer activity by using pyloric ligation model experimentally induced gastric ulcer. The parameters taken to assess anti-ulcer activity were volume of gastric acid secretion, ulcer index, free acidity and total acidity. Acute toxicity studies were also performed in mice. The extracts were also analysed Phytochemically. At the end of experimental period, rats were anaesthetized and sacrificed. The stomach was removed and incised to collect the gastric juice for determination of acidity. The stomach from each group was evaluated for ulcer index and percent protection. Phytochemical investigations revealed the presence of carbohydrates, fixed oils, fats, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and sterols in alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Cuscuta reflexa. LD50 studies for both the extracts upto the maximum of 2000 mg/kg dose level no mortality was observed in any of the animals that indicate their practically nontoxic in nature. Oral administration of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Cuscuta reflexa exhibited dose dependent significant protection in the pylorus ligation induced peptic ulcerated animals.

Keywords: Cuscuta reflexa, Ranitidine, stem extracts, pylorus ligation, anti-ulcer activity.