ANTI-SECRETORY ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF STEM BARK OF FICUS RETUSA L. IN ALBINO WISTAR RATS
Ficus retusa (L.), a member of the Moraceae family, is used in ayurveda for treats liver disorders, hepatomegaly, wounds and ulcer. To investigate the phytoconstituents, acute oral toxicity and anti-secretory activity of the Ethanol Extract of Ficus retusa (L.) (EEFR) stem bark extract in albino rats. EEFR at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg p.o administered to evaluate anti- secretory activity by using Ethanol, and cold-restraint stress induced gastric ulcer models in Albino rats. EEFR gave positive results for the alkaloids, triterpenoids, and flavonoids. Study on acute toxicity of EEFR found to be safe at the doses 2500mg/kg p.o. EEFR dose dependent inhibition in ethanol induced gastric lesions, EEFR showed 70.02 % protection at 500 mg/kg, and 59.75% protection at 250 mg/kg, and it also dose dependent inhibition in Cold-restraint stress induced gastric lesions, EEFR showed 69.67% protection at 500 mg/kg, and 60.28% protection at 250 mg/kg. All the results are found to be statistically significant (p≤0.05). These results support the ethnomedical uses of the plant in the treatment of gastric ulcer.