Clerodendron infortunatum Linn. (Verbenaceae) is an important and widely used medicinal plant, reported to contain active bitter substance like clerodin, has been widely used as tonic and anthelmintic agent in the country sides of North India. Though, variously used in Ayurveda, Unani system of medicine and Homeopathy in case of ailments like diarrhoea, skin disorders, venereal and scrofulous complaints, wounds, post-natal complications, as vermifuge, laxative and cholagogue, for the removal of ascarids in anus, as external applications on tumours, etc.,
Background: The present study reports the antiulcer properties of 50% ethanolic extract of Clerodendron infortunatum Linn. (Verbenaceae) leaves have assessed in different acute and chronic gastric ulcer models in rats.
Methods: EECI (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) was administered orally, twice daily for 5 days for prevention from ethanol (EtOH), Cold-restraint stress (CRS), Pylorus-ligation (PL) and 10 days for prevention of acetic acid induced ulcers.
Results: The EECI showed significant gastric ulcer protective effect in doses of 400 mg/kg, when given twice daily for 5 days against gastric ulcers induced by ethanol (EtOH), cold restraint stress (CRS) and pyloric ligation (PL). EECI showed dose dependent decrease in ulcer index (UI) against ulcers induced by: (i) Ethanol (control UI: 29.52±2.4 mm2/rat, EECI decrease 21.12±2.3 – 5.3±1.0 (ii) Cold restraint stress (CRS) (control UI: 32.13±2.1, EECI decrease 24.02±2.2 – 4.7±1.1 (iii) pylorus ligation (control UI: 29.25±2.4 mm2/rat, EECI decrease 22.32±2.7 – 5.3±1.0, EECI 400 mg/kg significantly healed ulcers induced by 50% acetic acid after 5 (control UI: 32.30 ± 2.9, EECI decrease 26.27±1.9 – 8.56±0.98 and after 10 days treatment (control UI: 29.02 ± 2.6, healing 21.28±2.1 – 5.78±1.2. EECI prevents the oxidative damage of gastric mucosa by blocking lipid peroxidation and by significant decrease in superoxide dismutase, and increase in catalase activity.
Conclusions: Our results show that Clerodendron infortunatum Linn. (Verbenaceae) possess significant gastro-protective activity which might be due to gastric defence factors and clerodin might be the main constituents responsible for this activity.
Gastroprotective effects of nebivolol and simvastatin against cold restraint stress-induced gastric ulcer in rats