Evaluation of Anti-Ulcer activity of Tephrosia purpurea Linn Pers Leaf Extract in Wistar Rats

D. Benito Johnson*, R. Sivasakthi, Nazzneen M.V, R. Venkatanarayanan

Department of Pharmacology, RVS College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,

Sulur, Coimbatore – 641402 Tamil Nadu, India.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: benitopharma@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

India is known for its traditional medicinal system – Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. There are several references in our ancient literature about the miraculous curing properties of the plant-based drugs. “Rig Veda and Atharva veda” seems to be the earliest record of use of plant in the medicine. A stomach ulcer involves an erosion in a person’s gastrointestinal tract. ‘Peptic’ is derived from Greek word “Peptikos” who’s meaning is related to digestion. Peptic ulcer occurs in the part of the gastrointestinal track which is exposed to gastric acid and pepsin (i.e) the stomach and duodenum. The extract of Tephrosia purpurea flowers against viruses and is very good antibacterial against Gram +ve and Gram -ve strain. The Plant extract was prepared and the phytochemical analysis was performed. The extract was administered with animals. The drug were administered orally once daily for 2 days and 45 min prior to pyloric ligation. The animals are sacrificed after four hours of pylorus ligation. The result indicates that, Flavonoids and Tannins have shown to be present in the TPAL treated groups. Since flavanoids antagonize aggressive factor which play a decisive role in the pathogenesis of gastric lesion and also enhance defence factor to protect the gastric mucosa from injury. Flavanoids diminish histamine secretion from mast cell by inhibition of histidine decarboxylase and stimulate PG biosynthesis. So the antiulcer activity of TPAL may be attributed to its flavonoid content. The study concluded that TPAL has an anti ulcer activity which may be due to protection and the strengthening of the mucosal defensive factor like mucus, bicarbonate, prostaglandin.

KEYWORDS: Stomach ulcer, Prostaglandin, Flavonoids, Tannins, Gastric mucosa.

INTRODUCTION:

Pharmacognosy is defined as the study of herbal drugs and the application of medicinal plants. Herbal Plants have applied for the medical treatments through most of patients, and are prescribed mainly to chronic disease. Archaeological reports indicates that the use of herbal drugs dates back to the Paleolithic age, approximately 60,000 years ago. ² In worldwide, the medicinal plants are used and established the healthful and clinical significance. The ancient litratures indicates that, medicinal plants were applied for the treatment of multiple disorders and reduce the economic burden of the patients.³

The Polyconstitutients of herbal plant have rich in anti-oxidant activities. Due to the antioxidant ability, there was a numerous research activities initiated on medicinal plants. The phenolic compounds are responsible for their antioxidant activities^.4 The active constituents like alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, triterpinoids are screened in Preliminary phyto chemical study. Ethanolic extract of Premna corymbosa rotti leaves have antipyretic activity^{. 5}

The ethonolic extract of Coconut reduced the gastric erosions which was induced by indomethacin. The reduction of ulcer is dose dependent. When increasing the dose, percentage of ulcer inhibition also increased.⁶ Theaquous, Chloroform and ethanolic extract of Ipomoea aquatic forsk leaves was tested for antiulcer activity by ligation induced method, stress induced and aspirin induced methods. The chloroform extract indicates the remarked reduction of gastric acid secretion and total acidity and ulcer index.⁷

The anti gastric ulcer activity studies with methanolic extract of Cassia Mimosoids bark and the antiulcer effects are matched with therapeutic acitivity of Ranitidine in shay rat model⁸. The medicinal plant Sesbania grandiflora L. rich with phytochemicals like alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, triterpenoids and tannins. Which leads to potential antiulcer activity in rat.⁹

The term Ayurveda is derived from Sanskrit and means Science of life. Avipathi Choornam was highly effective for gastroprotective effect. It reduces the severity of ulcer which was induced by the pylorus ligation method.it indicates that it is a safety and effective herbal drug for ulcer treatment.¹⁰ The research on whole plant of Cleome viscosa linn prove that, anti-inflammatory and antiulcer activity. The alcoholic extract reduces the gastric ulcer which was induced by the pyloric ligation method.¹¹The present study aimed to investigate the antiulcer activity of aqueous extract of leaves of Tephrosia purpurea using in vivo methods like Ethanol induced gastric ulcer, pylorus ligation method.

Plant Profile:

Tephrosia purpurea (Linn) Pers (Fabaceae) is a perennial herb. In ayurvedic system, Tephrosia purpurea is referred to a SarwaWrnavishapaha. Which implies that it can heal any type of wound. Thus the Tephrosia purpurea is a valuable herbal therapy that has an antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti inflammatory, anti viral and antiulcer property.¹² The plant picture is given in fugure 1.

Figure 1: Tephrosia purpurea Plant

This has been the rationale for the development of new antiulcer drugs, which includes herbal drugs. Indian systems of medicines are among the oldest medicinal systems in the world, provides leads to find therapeutically useful compounds from plant. Therefore, traditional medical knowledge supported by modern science is necessary to isolate, characterize and standardize the active constituents from herbal source.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Material

Collection Of Plant:

The herb Tephrosia purpurea were collected from “The Coimbatore Ayurveda College, Coimbatore” Tamil Nadu. The plant material was taxonomically identified and authenticated by the botanist Dr. M. U. Sherief Scientist ‘E’ in charge, Head of office, Botanical Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, Coimbatore-641003.

Pharmacological Screening methods:

Female wistar rat (average body weight 200 – 300g) were used for antiulcer study. The rats were procured from, department of pharmacology, RVS College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sulur, Coimbatore. The study protocol was approved by the IACE No: RVSCOPS/IAEC/M.Pharm/Pharmacology/124/ 2020 – 2021) and all procedures were performed in accordance with the recommendations for the proper care and use of laboratory animal.

The drug were administered orally once daily for 2 days and 45 min prior to pyloric ligation. The animals are sacrificed after four hours of pylorus ligation. The stomach was dissected out, opened along the greater curvature and the contents are drained in a centrifuge tube and were centrifuged at 1000rpm for 10min and volume is noted. The pH of the gastric juice is recorded by using a Ph meter. Then the contents are subjected to analysis for free and total acidity. The stomach is then washed with running water to see for ulcers in the glandular portion of the stomach. The number of ulcers per stomach are noted and severity of the ulcers scored microscopically with the help of 10x lens. The inner surface of the stomach was examined for ulcer index.

RESULT:

No mortality was observed in all the animals observed up to 14 days after the oral administration @ 2000 mg/kg. The analysis of the clinical signs data reveals no abnormal signs/symptoms that could be attributed to the drug administration. From the present study it is concluded that the LD50 of the drug Tephrosia purpurea is >2000mg/kg.

Dose dependent studies of TPML using rats in indomethacine induced ulcer model

TPAL extract was also studied for its effect on SGPT(AST) and SGOT(ALT). It showed rise in SGOT and SGPT level content in the control group where as pre treatment with TP extract at different dose levels was observed as declining the SGOT and SGPT levels. Simultaneously, there was a fall in the SGOT and SGPT in pantoprazole treated group. SGPT of the group I which served control was 97.00±2.65. Group III (100mg/kg), group IV (200mg/kg) was having the SGPT level of 75.33±2.60, 60.33±3.16 respectively. pantoprazole which was used as standard (Group II) had SGPT level of 63.00±2.52 respectively. The SGOT of the group I which served control was 152.67±5.04. Group III (100mg/kg), group IV (200mg/kg) was having the SGOT level of 133.67±3.38, 120.33±2.60 respectively. pantoprazole which was used as standard (Group II) had SGOT level of 116.00±1.53. respectively. The Histopathological Section of Rat Stomach Indomethacine Induced Gastric Ulcer Model was given in figure 2.

Figure 2: Histopathological Section of Rat Stomach Indomethacine Induced Gastric Ulcer Model

It is observed that TPAL reduces ulcer index and increased formation of ulcer inhibition compared to indomethacin induced group which suggests the possible role of TPAL in strengthening of gastric mucosa. TPAL treated groups showed significant reduction in protein concentration, which indicates strengthening of the gastric mucosa, therefore it prevents the entry of plasma protein into gastric juice. It is also observed that liver enzymes such as SGOT(AST) levels are increased which is due to the damage of gastric mucosa in the ulcer induced models, whether it showed in SGOT(AST) levels are decreased in TPAL treated groups indicates antiulcer activity. The Dose dependent studies of TPML using rats in indomethacineinduced ulcer model given in figure-3.

Figure 3: Dose dependent studies of TPML using rats in indomethacineinduced ulcer model

However, the aqueous leaves extract of TP decreases the severity and incidence of gastric erosions in indomethacine treated animals. The ulcer index of group I animals which served as control was 15.43±0.45. The ulcer index for group III (100mg/kg), group IV (200mg/kg) was 8.33±0.35, 5.40 ±0.28, respectively. Pantoprazole, the reference standard (group II) had ulcer index 4.31±0.23 and the percentage inhibition group III and group IV was 46.02 ±0.51, 65.67±0.88 respectively. Pantaprazole, the reference standard (groupII) had percentage inhibition of 72.52±1.32

Pylorus ligation induced ulcer

The aqueous leaves extract of TP decreases the severity and incidence of gastric erosions in pylorus ligated model. The ulcer index of group I animals which served as negative control was 11.52±0.48. The ulcer index for group III (100mg/kg), group IV (200mg/kg) was 5.76±0.88, 4.05±0.16 respectively. Pantoprazole, the reference standard (group II) had ulcer index 3.67±0.35 and the percentage inhibition of group III and group IV was 51.67±0.88, 65.86±0.58 respectively. Pantoprazole, the reference standard (group II) had percentage inhibition of 70.05±0.53 as shown in Figure -4.

whereas TPAL treated groups show normal gastric mucosa. Also in the histopathological reports of pylorus ligation induced ulcer group showed hemorrhage, inflammation and congestion. Whereas TPAL treated groups showed normal gastric mucosa which may be due to active compounds like flavonoids and tannins. Which was shown in figure 5.

Figure 5 Dose dependent studies of TPML using rats in pylorus ligation induced ulcer model.

Flavonoids and Tannins have shown to be present in the TPAL treated groups. Since flavanoids antagonize aggressive factor which play a decisive role in the pathogenesis of gastric lesion and also enhance defense factor to protect the gastric mucosa from injury. Flavanoids diminish histamine secretion from mast cell by inhibition of histidine decarboxylase and stimulate PG biosynthesis. So the antiulcer activity of TPAL may be attributed to its flavonoid content. The study result indicates that TPAL has an anti ulcer activity which may be due to protection and the strengthening of the mucosal defensive factor like mucus, bicarbonate, prostaglandin

CONCLUSION:

The study provided preliminary data for the Tephrosia purpurea leaf (L) Pers. possess significant antiulcer activity in animal models. It has a gastric antisecretory and acid neutralizing effect that are comparable to standard drug Pantaprazole. The antiulcer activity is probably due to the presence of bioactive compounds like Flavonoids, Tannins. These compounds protect and strengthen the mucosal barrier which may be responsible for the antiulcer activity.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The authors have no conflicts of interest regarding this investigation.

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Received on 28.09.2021 Modified on 19.10.2021

Res. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochem. 2021; 13(4):174-178.

DOI: 10.52711/0975-4385.2021.00029