GASTRO-PROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF FLOWERS OF HIBISCUS ROSA-SINENSIS (L.) IN MUCOSAL LESION ON RATS

Study was conducted to evaluate the gastro-protective activity of aqueous (HAE) and ethanolic (HEE) extracts of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. (Malvaceae) flowers in experimental animals. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts were investigated for pylorus ligation and indomethacin induced ulcer models in albino wistar rats. The pH, gastric volume, ulcer index, ulcer score and free and total acidity were determined by pylorus ligation induced ulcer model and ulcer score, ulcer index and percentage protection were determined by Indomethacin induced ulcer model. Phytochemical screening of aqueous and ethanolic extracts were conducted for and it showed that extracts have alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and mucilage. Both the extracts at dose of 200 and 400mg/kg showed significant (P<0.05) reduction in gastric volume (1.20±0.17, 0.83±0.20, 0.90±0.12, 0.96±0.17) and ulcer index (1.50±0.19, 1.33±0.11, 2.16±0.03, 0.75±0.17, 0.92±0.22, 0.31±0.04, 0.42±0.06, 0.19±0.04) as compared to the control group (1.47±0.15, 3.00±0.21, 1.64±0.13) in both of the models. It can be concluded that both the extracts possess gastro-protective activity that might be due the presence of flavanoids, tannins and/or mucilage.