A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MICHELIA CHAMPACA LINN. FLOWER AND LEAVES FOR ANTI – ULCER ACTIVITY

An Ulcer is a sore which means an open painful wound in mucous membranes or mucosal linings of the body. Gastro intestinal ulcers frequently occur in the stomach and duodenum where acid and pepsin activity is greatest. Peptic ulcer disease can be prevented by strengthening the cytoprotection, the defensive mechanism of gastric mucosa, rather than attenuating factor of aggression causing ulceration. Michelia champaca Linn., a well known member of Magnoliaceae is known for its fragrant flowers and various pharmacological actions. Anti-ulcerogenic activity of Michelia champaca Linn. flower and leaves are evaluated against aspirin induced gastric ulcers in pylorus ligated rats. The anti-ulcer potential is determined by using gastric juice volume, total acidity, pH and ulcer index. Both aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Michelia champaca Linn. flower and leaves are evaluated for their anti ulcer potential at about a dose of 300mg/kg b.wt, and are compared with the standard drug Cimetidine (50mg/kg b.wt). All the four extracts are said to possess significant anti ulcer potential by decrease in gastric juice volume, total acidity, ulcer index and increase in pH. The extracts have shown the anti ulcer property in the following order with reference to standard drug: Flower aqueous> Leaf alcoholic> Flower alcoholic> Leaf aqueous. The current study suggests that anti ulcerogenic effect of Michelia champaca Linn. is due to decrease of acid and pepsin outputs which enhance gastric mucosal strength.