Antiulcerogenic activity of Saussurea lappa root

The study was designed to investigate the antiulcer activ ity of ethyl acetate extract of the Saussurea lappa root using different models of gastric and duodenal ulceration in rats. Gastric ulcers were induced by oral administration of ethanol, aspirin and by pyloric ligation and duodenal ulcers were induced by oral admin istration of cysteamine H Cl. The extract was admin istered at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg orally 30 min prior to ulcer induction. Ranit idine (50 mg/kg) was used as a reference standard. The antiulcer activity was accessed by determining and comparing the ulcer index in the test group with that of the standard drug treated group. Gastric volume, total acid and free acid were estimated in the pylorus-ligated rats. Saussurea lappa root (400mg/kg) showed maximum inhibit ion of gastric acid, free acid and total acid to 53.54%, 52.55% and 30.30%, respectively. The ulcer index in the Saussurea lappa root treated animals was found to be significantly less in all the models compared to standard drug treated cases. The antiulcer activ ity of Saussurea lappa root was, however, less than that of ranitidine. The results suggest that Saussurea lappa root possesses significant antiulcer property which could be due to cytoprotective action of the drug or strengthening of gastric and duodenal mucosa with the enhancement of mucosal defense. Key-Words: Saussurea lappa root, antiulcer Introduction Man has used plants as medicines for thousands of years 1 .Tradit ionally peptic u lcers have been described as an imbalance between the luminal acid peptic attacks versus the mucosal defense 2 .The treatment of peptic ulcers with plant products used in folk medicine and the protection of induced gastric ulcer in laboratory animals using medicinal plants was reported 3 . Generally plant flavonoids have been found to be effective against ulcer in experimental animals 4 and exhibit several bio logical effects 5 Herbal medicine deals with plants and plant extracts in treating diseases. These medicines are considered safer because of the natural ingredients with no side effects 6 . Costus is the root of Saussurea lappa, (Decne.)C.B.Clarke., Asteraceae, an aromatic perennial plant growing in the open slopes of India and Kashmir, The Commonly it is called as costus, kuth, kushta, kust, muxiang, patchak, quang mu xiang. The modern researches suggest that it is a b lood purifier, antiseptic and increases the cetaceous circulation. It is a good