Evaluation of Anti-ulcer activity of Andrographis paniculate in-vivo using albino Wistar rats

Abstract

Andrographis paniculata (Acanthaceae) is given from ancient times in Indian traditional medicine like Ayurveda and Unani for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders, bronchial diseases, fever, inflammatory diseases, liver disorders, parasitic diseases and snake poisoning. Aim of the study was Investigation of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Andrographis paniculata in the treatment of ulcer by pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcer in rats. The antiulcer activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Andrographis paniculata (APE) was investigated using 25 rats. The first group was subjected as control, the second group was subjected to pylorus ligation on 6th day under ether anesthesia, and the third group was subjected to ranitidine (50 mg/kg) for 5 days + pylorus ligation on 6th day under ether anesthesia. The fourth and fifth groups were administered with the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Andrographis paniculata (100 and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively).  All animals were deprived of food (but not water) for 24 hours prior to being subjected to ulcerogenic challenge. At the end of study, the stomach tissue was cut, washed with ice cold saline. The tissue was fixed in 10% buffered neutral formalin solution for histopathological examination. Ulcer Index, pH, titrable acidity, gastric mucus, antioxidant activity, and gastric pepsin activity was evaluated by using tissue and gastric juice. Results: APE showed dose-dependent ulcer protective effect in ranitidine plus pylorus ligation induced gastric ulcer. The % protection was found in group IV (59.8 %), group V (60.08%) when compared to PL group II and  Ranitidine+PL group III, respectively. The APE showed highly significant enhancement of gastric wall mucus at the dose of 100 mg/kg. The results of our study revealed that the extracts of Andrographis paniculata possess significant dose dependent gastroprotective and antisecretory effects by strengthening the gastric mucosa, decreasing the acidity of gastric juice and pepsin activity as well as restore the imbalance antioxidant activity. Further studies on other factors like H. pylori, PGs and cAMP, which play important role in ulcerogenisis may provide more insights on the antiulcerogenic activity of Andrographis paniculata.