Abstract

The anti-ulcerogenic activity of Strobianthes crispus leaf extract was evaluated against ethanol-induced mucosal injury in rats. Five groups of Sprague Dawley rats were pre-treated respectively with: vehicle, distilled water (ulcer control), omeprazole (20 mg kg^-1, reference control), 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg S. crispusleaf extracts (experimental groups), 60 min prior to oral administration of absolute ethanol to generate gastric mucosal injury. Sixty minutes later, rats were sacrificed and gastric content, mucus and wall samples collected. Grossly, ulcer control rats exhibited severe injury to the gastric mucosa and decreased gastric mucus content pH of gastric content, whereas rats pre-treated with S. crispus leaf extracts resulted in significantly dose-dependent reduction of gastric lesion formation accompanied by significant increase in gastric mucus production and pH of gastric fluid. Gastric protection was more prominent in 1000 mg/kg of S. crispus-treated group. Histology, ulcer control rats showed the most severe and deepest gastric mucosal necrotic damage, with edema and leukocyte infiltration of the submucosal layer compared to experimental and reference control groups. Thus, our data suggest that the ulcer protective activity of S. crispus may be due to its defensive mucin secretion and increase in pH of gastric content, and less mucosal injury, no edema and leucocytes infiltration of submucosa. Furthermore, acute toxicity study has indicated no mortality with 5 g/kg dose of S. crispus in Sprague Dawley and did not produce any major clinical signs of toxicity.

Key words: Anti-ulcer, Strobianthes crispus leaf, acute toxicity, histology.