Gastro-Protective Activity of Methanol Leaf Extract of Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thw. on Ethanol-Induced Ulceration in Rats

The study evaluates the gastro-protective activity of methanol extract of the leaves of Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thw. in Wistar rats. Single daily dose of the extract (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to the respective groups of experimental rats for 28-consecutive days. The control and standard groups received distilled water and ranitidine (10 ml/kg and 250 mg/kg body weight) respectively. At the end of the period, they were exposed to a single oral dose of 75% ethanol. After 60 minutes, the animals were sacrificed and the stomach evaluated for ulceration. There was significant decrease (P<0.05) in ulcer count (1.00±0.00 and 0.00±0.00) in the 400 and 800 mg/kg treated groups respectively compared to control (26.00±2.30). Similarly, there was corresponding increase in percentage of ulcer inhibition (96.2% and 100%) due to the activity of the extract. The extract of P. longifolia exhibited significant dose dependent gastroprotective anti-ulcer activity.