Gastroprotective effect of standardized leaf extract from Argyreia speciosa on experimental gastric ulcers in rats

Argyreia speciosa (L.f), Sweet (Family Convolvulaceae) is used traditionally in Indian System of Medicine as aphrodisiac, rejuvenating agent, intellect promoting agent, brain tonic and in the therapy of hepatomegaly, diabetes and chronic ulcer.

To study the gastroprotective effect of standardized butanol fraction of Argyreia speciosa leaf (ASE).

The butanol fraction of Argyreia speciosa leaf (ASE; 50, 100 and 200mg/kg body weight) was administered orally, twice daily for 5 days for prevention from Aspirin (ASP)-, ethanol (EtOH)-, cold-restraint stress (CRS) - and pylorus ligation (PL)-induced ulcers. Estimation of antioxidant enzymes activity was carried out in CRS-induced ulcer model, and various gastric secretion parameters like volume of gastric juice, acid output, and pH value were estimated in PL-induced ulcer model.

ASE showed dose-dependent ulcer protective effect in ASP 23.64-58.76% (p<0.01 to p<0.001), EtOH 15.45-58.45% (p<0.001), CRS 19.39-78.36% (p<0.001) and PL 19.67-69.04% (p<0.05 to p<0.01), respectively. The percentage of protection by standard drug ranitidine was 77.77-84.32% (p<0.01 to p<0.001) in various gastric ulcer models. The gastric wall mucus was significantly (p<0.001) enhanced by ASE and is regarded as the first line of defence against EtOH-induced gastric ulcers showing cytoprotective property. ASE showed a marginal decrease in volume, acid pepsin concentration and acid pepsin output. However, ASE reduced the ulcer index with significant decrease in LPO level (p<0.001), and SOD level (p<0.01 to p<0.001) as compared with CRS-induced group. A gradual and significant increase in CAT values were observed at 100 and 200mg/kg dose levels (p<0.01 to p<0.001).

The results of our study revealed that Argyreia speciosa possess significant dose dependent gastroprotective activity, probably due to its free radical scavenging activity.