Volume :
2
Issue :
3
Abstract :
Antiulcer activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata was studied in rats in which gastric ulcers were induced by oral administration of ethanol or 0.6 M HCl or indomethacin or by pyloric ligation and duodenal ulcers were induced by oral administration of cysteamine HCl. AETP was administered in the dose of 1 to 20 mg/kg orally 30 min prior to ulcer induction. The antiulcer activity was assessed by determining and comparing the ulcer index in the test drug group with that of the vehicle control group. Gastric total acid output and pepsin activity were estimated in the pylorus ligated rats. Omeprazole was used as a reference drug. The ulcer index in the treated animals was found to be significantly less in all the models compared to vehicle control animals. This antiulcer property was more prominent in animals in which ulcers were induced by HCl, indomethacin and pyloric ligation. Omeprazole (8mg/kg) produced a significant gastric and duodenal ulcer protection when compared with the control group. The anti-ulcer activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata was however, less than that of omeprazole. Our results suggest that Tabernaemontana divaricata possesses significant antiulcer property which could be either due to cytoprotective action of the drug or by strengthening of gastric and duodenal mucosa and thus enhancing mucosal defence. Cytoprotection duodenal ulcer mucosal defence ulcer protection.