In-vivo Pharmacological Evaluation of Anti-Ulcerative Colitis Activity of Ethanolic Bark Extract of Ficus religiosa in Swiss Albino Mice

Ulcerative colitis is an idiopathic chronic disease of the intestine with unknown etiology involving multiple immune, genetic and environmental factors. The present study was carried out based on traditional claims to assess anti-ulcerative colitis activity. The extraction of the bark powdered of Ficus religiosa was carried out using ethanol as a solvent in the soxhlet apparatus. The % yield of the ethanol extract of Ficus religiosa was calculated and it was found to be 21%. The quantitative preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, amino acids, and protein in ethanolic extract of Ficus religiosa. Ulcerative colitis was induced in mice by induction of 2ml of 3% acetic acid through intrarectally. The low dose and high dose (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) of extract was administered orally in mice. Prednisolone (1.14mg/kg) was used as the standard drug for comparison. All acetic acid- induced mice showed typical clinical manifestations of ulcerative colitis. Colon length increased significantly and colon weight decreased significantly of the treatment groups when compared to the standard groups. The MPO activity is significantly higher in Ficus religiosa treated group (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) in comparison to standard drug Prednisolone (1.14mg/kg) treated group. It was observed that the inflammation in the colonic tissue of Ficus religiosa treatment group was significantly higher than standard group. The two treatment group shows nearly equal effect as that of the standard drug. All parameters suggest that the 400 mg/kg dose is more effective than the lower dose.