Pharmacognostical phytochemical and anti-ulcer activity of Andrographis echioides (Acanthaceae)

Abstract

The present studies to determine the antiulcer activity of the ethanol extract from the leaves of Andrographis echioides. The preliminary phytochemical investigation showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, gums and phytosteroids. The pharmacological and acute toxicity studies of ethanol extract were performed by following, OECD-423 guidelines (Acute toxic class method). No mortality or acute toxicity was observed (3 days) up to 2000 mg/kg of body weight. The phytoconstituents like flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids, have been reported in several anti-ulcer literatures as possible gastroprotective agents. Flavonoids, tannins and triterpenes are among the cytoprotective active materials for which antiulcerogenic efficacy has been extensively confirmed [1] The ethanol extract of Andrographis echioides showed the presence flavonoids and their glycosides, tannins and triterpenoids. These phytoconstituents present in the extract could be the possible agents involved in the prevention of gastric lesions induced by pylorus ligation. Andrographis echioides showed a dose dependent curative ratio compared to ulcer control groups. The extracts exhibited an inhibition percentage of 26.50 and 53.06 at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg doses respectively. The ulcer protective action of extracts at 400 mg/kg was good to that of standard drugs, Ranitidine, which exhibited an inhibition percentage of 77.50.