Abstract
The study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of alcoholic extract of Butea frondosa Koen. ex Roxb against gastric lesions induced in rats using acetic acid plus pyloric ligation. The impact of alcoholic extract of Butea frondosa in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg as single dose schedules and 200 mg/kg for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days was determined. Parameters assessed were ulcer index, total acidity, acid volume, total protein and pH, non protein sulfhydryls and gastric wall mucus. Extract in dose of 400 mg/kg as a single schedule significantly reduced ulcer severity, total protein and pH as against the control (p<0.05). Concurrent findings were also observed with 200 mg/kg administered for 21 and 28 days. Treatment with 400 mg/kg of the extract as a single dose and 200 mg/kg for 28 days produced an elevation in the content on non protein sulfhydryls. Gastric wall mucus was enhanced with 200 mg/kg of the extract administered for 28 days with a value of 186 +/- 2.74 mu g Alcian blue/g wet weight compared with the control (p<0.05). A palpable decline in incidence of ulcers was observed with the extract which might be largely due to the presence of flavonoids.