Protective Effect of Hydrolea zeylanica Vahl. Leaf extract in Ethanol and Cold Restraint Stress Induced Ulcers in Rats

The present study was designed to investigate the Antiulcer activity of methanolic extract of the leaves of Hydrolea zeylanica (L) Vahl using two different models namely Ethanol and cold restraint stress induced ulcers models in rats. The extract was administered at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg orally 30 min prior to ulcer induction. Ranitidine (50 mg/kg) was used as a reference standard. The antiulcer activity was accessed by determining and comparing the ulcer index in the test group with that of the standard group. Gastric volume, total acid and free acid were estimated in rats. Hydrolea zeylanica leaf methanolic extract (HZLME) (500 mg/kg) showed maximum inhibition of gastric acid, free acid and total acid respectively. The ulcer index in the Hydrolea zeylanica leaf methanolic extract treated animals was found to be significantly less in all the models compared to standard drug treated group. However the antiulcer activity of Hydrolea zeylanica leaf methanolic extract was, found to be lesser than that of ranitidine. The results suggest that Hydrolea zeylanica possesses significant antiulcer property which could be due to cytoprotective action of the drug or strengthening of gastric and duodenal mucosa with an enhancement of mucosal defence mechanism.