PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN-VIVO SCREENING OF ANTIULCER ACTIVITY ON FOENICULUM VULGARE SEEDS

Abstract

Peptic ulcer disease and its complications remain the cause of significant morbidity worldwide, representing a major burden for health care resources. Although potent anti-ulcer drugs are available, most of them produce several toxicities, thus emphasizing the need to search for new alternatives. It is universally known as Fennel and is known by more than 100 names. It is a traditional and popular herb with a long history of use as a medicine. A series of studies showed that F. vulgare effectively controls numerous infectious disorders of bacterial, fungal, viral, mycobacterium, and protozoal origin. It has antioxidant, antitumor, chemopreventive, cytoprotective, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, and oestrogenic activities. Some of the publications stated that F. vulgare has a special kind of memoryenhancing effect and can reduce stress. The aim of present study was to evaluate antiulcer effect of F. vulgare. In the present study, different doses of the extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) were evaluated for their effect on volume of gastric secretion, pH, total acidity, ulcer score, and ulcer index along with the standard drug ranitidine (50 mg/kg). In the single-dose study of the pylori ligation model, HEFV 100 mg/kg did not show any better activity when compared to the negative control. This indicates that the low dose of the extract is not an adequate dose to produce ulcer healing. This model showed that the highest dose of the plant extract (HEFV 400 mg/kg) has got better antisecretory activity as evidenced by reduction in the mean volume of gastric secretion, rise in pH, and reduction in total acidity (P<0.01) compared to the negative control. Significant reduction in ulcer index (measure of ulcerated area) was noted for HEFV 200 mg/kg (P<0.05) and HEFV 400 mg/kg (P<0.001) as compared to the negative control. Key words: Peptic ulcer, F. vulgare, antiulcer effect, Pylori ligation model