EVALUATION OF ANTI ULCER ACTIVITY OF HYDROALCOHOLIC LEAVES EXTRACT OF LEUCAS ASPERA

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to determine the phytoconstituents present in Leaves of Leucas aspera. The present study was therefore carried out to evaluate the anti-ulcer activity of Hydroalcoholic (70% methanol) leaf extract of Leucas aspera in rats. The effect of Leucas aspera extract on gastric ulcer in rats in indomethacin induced gastric ulcers model and ethanol-induced models was studied using single dosing (100, 200 mg/kg) and repeated dosing (200 mg/kg for 5 days) approaches. Ranitidine (50 mg/kg) and cimetidine (100 mg/kg) were used as the standard drugs. Depending on the model, outcome measures were volume ulcer index. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Leucas aspera significantly (P<0.001) reduced gastric ulcer, respectively, in indomethacin induced gastric ulcers model and ethanol-induced models at the 200 mg/kg dose, which is comparable to the standard drugs. 5 days pre-treatment with Leucas aspera 200 mg/kg exhibited significant (P<0.001) ulcer inhibition. Leucas aspera  possesses both dose-dependent and time-dependent anti-ulcer effect in the two models. The oral median lethal dose (LD50) is estimated to be higher than 2000 mg/kg for the crude hydroalcoholic extract, and secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, tannins, and saponins were present. The findings of this study confirmed that Leucas aspera has anti-ulcer pharmacologic activity due to one or more of the secondary metabolites present in it. Therefore, this study validates its anti-ulcer use in Ethiopian folk medicine. Further investigations on isolation of specific phytochemicals and elucidating mechanisms of action are needed.