Abstract
Bio-guided fractionation of the total alcoholic extract of Convolvulus austro-aegyptiacus was screened for its anti-ulcerogenic activity, using an absolute-ethanol-induced ulcer model at 500 and 1000mg/kg doses. Two compounds were isolated from the butanol extract of C. austro-aegyptiacus and identified by H-1 and C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance as scopoletin and scopolin. The isolated compounds (50mg/kg) showed a remarkable anti-ulcerogenic activity because they exhibited control-ulcer protection by 16.7% and 90.8%, respectively. The acute toxicity study showed that the extract is highly safe; the median lethal dose (LD50) was more than 4000mg/kg. Moreover, the obtained results were confirmed by the sub-chronic toxicity because the rats that have been administered 1000mg/kg of the extract for 15 consecutive days showed no alteration in the liver and kidney functions. Copyright (c) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.