Antiulcerogenic Effects of Spathodea Falcata against Different Experimental Models

Spathodea falcata is used in Indian folk medicine as an antiulcerogenic agent. This study was intended to evaluate the antiulcer property of various extracts of bark of Spathodea falcata at different dose levels in ethanol induced and indomethacin induced gastric ulcer models. It was observed that oral administration of all the extracts shows significant reduction in ulcer lesion index as well as increase in volume and pH of gastric content in both experimental models, being terpenoids and steroids fraction is the most effective at dose of 100 mg/kg; it significantly reduced gastric lesion index (80.48%), in comparison to omeprazole (71.20%) and petroleum ether extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg (80.67%). Increased gastric mucosal defense mechanism by terpenoids and steroids fraction is due to its high levels of terpenoids like β amyrin, lupeol. The present results clearly shows antiulcer effect of Spathodea falcata against various irritants has been mainly due to cytoprotective effect mediated through prostaglandin and partly due to free radical scavenging activity.