Abstract

Aim of the study

Dodonaea viscosa Linn. (Sapindaceae) is used as a medicinal herb by the tribes of Shola forest regions of Western Ghats. It is used for headaches, backaches, stomach pain, piles and simple ulcers. The present study was performed to evaluate the gastroprotective effect and acute toxicity of this plant in various experimental models.

Materials and methods

Studies were performed in two different models (ethanol and indomethacin induced gastric ulcer) in wistar rats. Gastric protection was evaluated by measuring the ulcer index, gastric glutathione assay, alkaline phosphate assay and histopathological studies. Gastric secretion studies were done by pyloric ligation experiment.

Results and conclusions

Water and ethanol extract (500 mg/kg body weight) showed moderate activity compared to hexane extract. Hexane extract of Dodonaea viscosa dose dependently inhibited ethanol induced gastric lesions, causing 90% protection at 500 mg/kg, 81% protection at 250 mg/kg, and 70% protection at 125 mg/kg and it also dose dependently inhibited indomethacin induced gastric lesions, causing 92% protection at 500 mg/kg, 77% protection at 250 mg/kg, and 52% protection at 125 mg/kg. The various degrees of inhibition were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). Further in our gastric secretion studies, we found that hexane extract of Dodonaea viscosa (500 mg/kg) decreased the amount of total acid in gastric juice. Dodonaea viscosa hexane extract thus inhibits acid secretion to prevent ulcer aggravation. Acute toxicity study with a higher dose of 1250 mg/kg did not manifest any toxicological signs in rats. We also performed preliminary phytochemical screening of the crude extract which gave positive results for the presence of flavanoids, saponins, bitter principles and phenols.

Keywords: Dodonaea viscosa; Ethanol; Indomethacin; GSH; Gastric ulcer; Pyloric ligation

Abbreviations: ALP, alkaline phosphatase; ALT, alanine aminotransferases; AST, aspartate aminotransferases; ANOVA, analysis of variants; COX, cyclooxygenase; CPCSEA, Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals; DTNB, 5′5′-dithio-bis-2-nitrobenzoic acid; GSH, reduced glutathione; HPTLC, high-performance thin layer chromatography; nm, nanometer; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; TCA, tri-chloro acetic acid; TLC, thin layer chromatography; UI, ulcer index

Article Outline

1. Introduction

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Chemicals

2.2. Plant extract

2.3. Test animals

2.4. Gastroprotective activity

2.4.1. Ethanol induced gastric ulcer

2.4.2. Indomethacin induced gastric ulcer

2.4.3. Pyloric ligation

2.4.4. Measurement of ulcer index

2.4.5. Gastric glutathione assay

2.4.6. Estimation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

2.4.7. Histopathological studies

2.4.8. Acute toxicity studies

2.4.9. Preliminary phytochemical screening

2.4.10. Statistical analysis

3. Results and discussion

Acknowledgements

References