Evaluation of the Antiulcer Activity of the Leaves of Azadirachta indica: An Experimental Study

Background: Azadirachta indica , an evergreen tree, is used by several folkloric practitioners to treat peptic ulcers in India. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antiulcer activity of the aqueous extract (AE) of the leaves of A. indica in Wistar rats. Methods: Gastric ulcerations were induced by pyloric ligation, aspirin, and cold restraint stress. AE was used in doses of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg body weight per os. Distilled water served as the control and ranitidine 20 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneal as the reference standard. The ulcer index (UI) and percentage inhibition (PI) values were determined in each model. The volume of gastric contents, free acidity, total acidity, and pH were measured in the pyloric ligation-induced ulcer model. Results: AE showed a dose-dependent and significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the UI and an increase in the PI in all models employed compared to the control group. AE caused a dose-dependent decline in the gastric content volume, free acidity, and total acidity. Conclusion: The leaves of A. indica possess significant antiulcer activity and act via multiple mechanisms. © 2016 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel Received: October 23, 2015 Accepted: November 25, 2015 Published online: January 14, 2016 Dr. Girish Gulab Meshram Room No. 302, 3rd floor, Department of Pharmacology Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi 110001 (India) E-Mail drgirish23 @ yahoo.co.in www.karger.com/imi DOI: 10.1159/000442750 This is an Open Access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC) (www.karger.com/OA-license), applicable to the online version of the article only. Distribution permitted for non-commercial purposes only. D ow nl oa de d by : 54 .7 0. 40 .1 1 10 /3 /2 01 7 1: 44 :3 0 P M 11 Integr Med Int 2016;3:10–16 DOI: 10.1159/000442750 Bhajoni et al.: Evaluation of the Antiulcer Activity of the Leaves of Azadirachta indica: An Experimental Study www.karger.com/imi © 2016 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel