Effect of the Bioactive Fraction of Argyreia speciosa Leaves Against Gastric Ulcer and Antioxidant Defence System in Rats

Object: The standardized flavonoid fraction with quercetin and kaempferol of Argyreia speciosa (Convolvulaceae) leaves gathered from Assam (India) was used to evaluate the ulcerprotective, antioxidant and antisecretory activities in ulcerated rats. Materials and methods: The flavonoid enriched fraction of A. speciosa leaves (BFAS) at dose of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/BW was given through oral routes, bis in die for five days for the protection of ulcers induced by pylorus ligation, aspirin, cold restraint stress and ethanol. Estimation of in vivo antioxidant enzyme activities were carried out in cold restraint stress induced ulcer model, whereas gastric secretion and mucosal studies were carried out in pylorus ligation induced ulcer model. Results: A dose dependent ulcerprotective activity was observed by BFAS, when compared with the disease control in respective models [Pylorus ligation; 22.40-66.12% (P<0.01 to P<0.001), Aspirin; 24.70-61.17% (P<0.05 to P<0.001), Cold-Restraint Stress; 23.34-54.18% (P<0.05 to P<0.001), Ethanol; 17.91-64.16% (P<0.01 to P<0.001) and Ranitidine; 63.87-74.30% (P<0.01)]. The levels of antioxidant enzyme, lipid peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were decreased, though a noteworthy increment in catalase and glutathione peroxidase values were observed. In pylorus ligation induced ulcer model, BFAS was showed reduced gastric discharge parameters and increased mucoprotein level with respect to ulcer control. Conclusion: The results of this study have shown that BFAS have a significant dose dependent ulcerprotective, antioxidant and antisecretory activity presumably by blocking the activity of proton pump, protecting from antioxidants produced during stress induced ulcer and by enhancing glycoprotein levels.