Gastroprotective and Antioxidant mechanism of Litchi chinensis Leaf extract

Litchi chinensis has been used to treat gastric ulcers in ayurvedic medicine but its efficacy was not validated yet. The dried leaves of Litchi chinensis were powdered and subjected to extraction with 90% ethanol using soxhlet extraction method. The extract was subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis and was estimated for antiulcer activity against Ethanol induced ulcer model and cold stress-induced ulcer. The activity was assessed in Wistar rats at a dose of 200mg/kg orally and compared with ranitidine (45mg/kg). The extract showed significant lower the ulcer index in ethanol-induced ulcers as well as showed a significant reduction in cold stress-induced ulcers. Besides, it also shows concomitant attenuation of the level of antioxidant enzyme catalase and SOD. These findings indicate the ethanolic extract of Litchi chinensis exhibits convincing antiulcer action.