EVALUATION AND COMPARISON OF VARIOUS EXTRACTS OF RHYNCHOSIA MINIMA (LINN) DC AGAINST PYLORUS LIGATION INDUCED ULCERS IN RATS

The plant R. minima (Linn) DC (Fabaceae) is an indigenous medicinal plant used traditionally as abortifacient, anthelmintic, used in the treatment of wounds, asthma and piles. In the current study aqueous, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of this plant were compared and evaluated for antiulcer activity by pylorus ligation model. All these extracts also subjected for the phytochemical analysis for the investigation chemical constituents and toxic potential. Aqueous extract was found to be presence of flavanoids, tannins and glycosides; alcohol extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates and isoflavanoids; while ethyl acetate extract was found to be the presence of tannins, flavanoids and alkaloids. The aqueous and et hyl acetate extracts were found to be nontoxic up to 4000mg/kg dose level while ethanol extract was found to be toxic at the dose level of 3000mg/kg after single dose administration of the extracts. During the comparison of anti-ulcer activity, treatment with aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts showed significant reduction in ulcer index, free acidity as well as total acidity in pylorus ligated rats. However, ethanol extract showed relatively less reduction in ulcer index, free acidity as well as total acidity. The anti-ulcer activity observed in aqueous extract treatment group was nearly equivalent when compared with standard Ranitidine Hcl. Keywords: R. minima (Linn.) DC, Aqueous, Ethanol and Ethyl acetate extracts, toxicity, anti-ulcer activity, Ranitidine Hcl.