Abstract
ANTIULCER ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC FLOWER EXTRACT OF HELIOTROPIUM INDICUM ON NSAIDS INDUCED ULCER IN RATS

Antiulcer activity of ethanolic flower extract of Heliotropium indicum on NSAID induced ulcer in rats was studied. Indomethacin was used as ulcerogenic agent to induce ulcer in rats. The animals were divided in to four groups of six animals each. Group I served as vehicle control received 1% carboxy methyl cellulose solution, group II received Omeprazole (10mg/kg) served as reference control and Group III and IV received 200 & 400 mg/kg respectively of ethanolic flower extract of Heliotropium indicum. The test drugs were administered for three days, orally by suspending in 1% Carboxy methyl cellulose solution. On day 3, indomethacin (30 mg/kg b.w.) was given intraperitoneally as a single dose to induce gastric ulcers after 30 minutes of drug treatment. The animals were sacrificed, stomachs were excised and cut open in greater curvature to observe ulcer index. The rats treated with Heliotropium indicum flower extract (200mg and 400mg/kg) also significantly (P<0.001 & P<0.01, respectively) decreased the intensity of gastric mucosal damage induced by indomethacin. From the results it was concluded that Heliotropium indicum flower extract exhibited antiulcer activity against indomethacin induced ulcer in rats.