ABSTRACT:
We present here in vitro antioxidant and in vivo antiulcer activities of the chloroform insoluble fraction of defatted ethanolic extract of whole plant of A. sessilis (CIAE). Antioxidant activity was determined by three in vitro methods-DPPH and H2O2 radical scavenging and reducing power. To study the antiulcer activity of CIAE (100 and 200mg/kg) using different models of ulceration in rats, viz. pylorus ligature, aspirin induced and cold-restraint stress-induced gastric lesions in rats. Parameters taken to assess anti-ulcer activity were volume of gastric secretion, pH, free acidity, total acidity, ulcer index and % inhibition of gastric ulcers in pylorus ligature model. While in aspirin and cold resistant stress induced models, ulcer index and % inhibition of gastric ulcers was determined. Famotidine (20mg/kg) was used as a reference drug. CIAE exhibited significant (p<0.001) and dose dependant radical scavenging and reducing power. CIAE treated animals exhibited protective effect on ulceration induced by pylorus ligation, aspirin induced and cold restraint stress in rats. Control animals had ulcers and hemorrhagic streaks, while animals treated with CIAE showed reduction in ulcer index in all the models in a dose dependant manner; it significantly (p < 0.001) decreased the volume of gastric acid secretion and also reduced free acid and total acid with respect to control and comparable to the standard drug. These results indicate that the A. sessilis has antisecretory and citoprotective effects that may be related to the presence of various phytochemicals present in it and detected during phytochemical analysis.