Evaluation of Antiulcer activity of Alcoholic stem extract of Epipremnum aureum (Linden andre) G.S. Bunting

Abstract

Plants kingdom provides rich source of bioactive phytochemicals which are effective resources that are screened for deve. This plant is native to South eastern Asia and New Guinea. The plant is popular as traditional anticancer preparation in Malaysia and Singapore. In addition, this plant also finds its application in the treatment of ascites, cancer and skin diseases. The current study was carried out to investigate the anti-ulcer activity of the ethanolic stem extract of Epipremnum aureum in Wister rats. Investigation of antiulcer activity of the ethanolic stem extract of Epipremnum aureum was carried out on pylorus ligated and ethanol induced gastric ulcer models by oral administration of extract at the dose of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg body weight. Parameters such as percentage of inhibition of ulcer, ulcer indices were evaluated in ethanol induced ulcer model using Sucralfate (100mg/kg) as the standard drug, while volume of gastric secretion, free acidity, total acidity, pH were assessed in pylorus ligated ulcer model using Omeprazole (30mg/kg) as standard. The extract showed significant (p<0.05) dose dependant reduction in ulcer indices in ethanol induced ulcer model at the tested doses of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg, exhibiting maximum gastroprotection of 73.94% at the dose of 400mg/kg which were comparable with that of sucralfate which showed gastroprotection of 87.9%. In pylorus ligation induced ulcer model, in comparison with the vehicle control group there was significant decrease in total acidity, free acidity, ulcer index, gastric volume and rise in gastric pH were observed in the animals treated with extract at the doses of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg. The plant extract showed highest gastroprotectivity of 71.3% at the dose of 400mg/kg whereas standard drug Omeprazole showed 81.5%. This study showed that ethanolic stem extract of Epipremnum aureum exhibits gastroprotective and antiulcer activity. Therefore, not only confirmed the traditional usage in the treatment of gastric ulcers, also provided the proof that this plant extract can be incorporated in the development of phytoformulations for the treatment of ulcers of the stomach.