EVALUATION OF GASTROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF TEPHROSIA VILLOSA AGAINST EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED ULCERS IN WISTAR RATS

Objective: The present research work was designed to investigate the gastroprotective potentials of methanol extract of Tephrosia villosa. Methods: The aerial parts of Tephrosia villosa were dried under shade, powdered and deffated with petroleum ether and then marc leftover was subjected to methanol extraction using soxhlet apparatus using soxh-let apparatus. Antiulcer activity of methanol extract was determined against stress-induced and aspirin-induced ulcers in experimental animal models. The total number of ulcers formed, ulcer index, percentage inhibition, ulcerated area, protected area, pH and Total acidity were parameters in the study. Results: Methanol extract of Tephrosia villosa at medium (200 mg/kg) and high (200 mg/kg) could significantly (P<0.01) reduced the total number of ulcers formed, ulcer index, ulcerated area and total acidity in therapeutic groups compared to vehicle control and thereby significantly (P<0.01) increased percentage inhibition of ulcers and protected area which was evident by the significant rise in pH of gastric content. The effect of extracts was dose-dependent and results were comparable to that of standard drug omeprazole. Conclusion: The results obtained from the present work suggest that the methanol extract of Tephrosia villosa possess significant anti-ulcer potentials against experimentally induced ulcers in albino rats.