Anti-ulcer activity of Ficus religiosa leaf ethanolic extract

Objective:To evaluate the anti-ulcer activity and acute toxicity ofFicus religiosa(F. religiosa)leaf ethanolic extract in animal models.Methods:Anti-ulcer activity ofF. religiosaethanolicextract(250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) was studied on stress induced ulcer animal models.Ranitidine was used as standard. The anti-ulcer activity ofF. religiosawas evaluated with thehelp of ulcer area and histopatholgical examination. Preliminary phyto-chemical screeningand acute toxicity studies ofF. religiosaalso carried out.Results:Results showed that theextract treatments prevented ulcer area and gastric secretion in a dose-dependent manner.Administration of 2000 mg/kg extract did not show any acute toxicity in albino mice. Preliminaryphytochemical analysis identified the presence of flavonoids in the ethanolic extract ofF. religiosa.Conclusions:The extract is non-toxic even at relatively high concentrations. The anti-ulceractivity is probably due to the presence of flavanoids.

Barringtonia acutangula improves the biochemical parameters in diabetic rats

AIM: This study was aimed at evaluating the anti-diabetic activity of the ethanol and aqueous extracts of the leaf material of Barringtonia acutangula in a diabetic animal model. METHODS: The ethanolic and aqueous extracts(250 and 500 mg kg 1body weight) of the leaves of B. acutangula were assessed for antidiabetic activity in a streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetes animal model following 21 days of treatment. Glibenclamide(0.6 mg kg 1p.o.) was used as a positive control. The hematological parameters, such as blood glucose level, urea, creatinin, cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels were examined. RESULTS: An acute toxicity study(5 000 mg kg 1, p.o.) did not produce any symptoms of toxicity. Significant reductions in blood glucose level, and serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were noted in animals treated with the extract. The high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDLC) level was found to increase as compared with the diabetic control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the leaf aqueous and ethanolic extracts of B. acutangula have anti-diabetic effects. The aqueous extract of B. acutangula produced a similar effect when compared with the ethanol extract. It is proposed that consumption of B. acutangula in some form like tea may help the management of diabetes.