Evaluation Of Anti-Ulcer And Anti-Oxidant Effects Of Erythrina Variegata Linn (Var.Alba) Bark

Prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause gastric ulceration and other gastrointestinal complications. This study evaluated the anti-ulcer and antioxidant effects of a 70% methanolic bark extract of Erythrina variegata Linn (EV). The EV extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.) was tested in rats using aspirin (200 mg/kg, b.w.) and ethanol induced (80%1 ml/rat) gastric ulcer models, with ranitidine (50 mg/kg, b.w) and omeprazole (20 mg/kg, b.w) as standards. Antioxidant potential was assessed in vitro methods using DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays including quantitative estimation of phytoconstituents was also assessed. EV bark extract significantly reduced ulcer indices (5.8±0.06, 4.6±0.04 in aspirin induced 6.6±0.04, 5.3±0.06 in ethanol induced) and increased ulcer inhibition (50.84±61.01% in aspirin; 51.1±160.74% in ethanol). Standard drugs showed greater inhibition (66.94% and 68.14%). In antioxidant assays, EV extract produced dose-dependent effects, with 60.13±0.21% and 59.41±0.32% scavenging at 100 μg/ml, and 77.24±0.14% and 81.21±0.18% at 200 μg/ml in DPPH and H2O2 models, respectively, compared to ascorbic acid (66.01±0.31% and 86.11±0.24%). In conclusion, the 70% methanolic bark extract of Erythrina variegata demonstrated significant, dose-dependent anti-ulcer and antioxidant activities, due to presence of phenolic, flavonoid and alkaloids contents to supporting its potential as a natural gastroprotective agent.