Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of Antiulcer Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Lilium Candidum Flowers

Abstract

Peptic disorders like gastro esophageal reflux disease, gastritis, peptic ulcer, duodenal ulcer etc., are the common in today’s life style. This may be due to stressful life style or improper balance diet. The pathology behind these disorders may be discrepancy between offensive and defensive mechanisms either by excess secretion of acid and pepsin or diminished ability of the gastro-duodenal mucosal barrier to protect against stomach acid-pepsin secretion. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a class of the most commonly used medicines and proven to be effective for certain disorders. Some people use NSAIDs on daily basis for preventive purpose. But a variety of severe side effects can be induced by NSAIDs. Studies have shown that edible natural ingredients exhibit preventive benefit of gastric ulcer. Therefore present study was designed to evaluate antiulcer activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Lilium candidum flowers in rats. Qualitative analysis of various phytochemical constituents and quantitative analysis of total phenolics and flavonoids were determined by the well-known test protocol available in the literature. The in vivo anti-ulcer activity of hydroalcoholic extract was assessed against Aspirin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Depending on the model, outcome measures were pH of gastric fluid and ulcer index as well as percent inhibition of ulcer index. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, carbohydrates, saponins, polyphenols and amino acids. The total phenolics content of L. candidum extract was (1.039mg/100mg), followed by flavonoids (0.941mg/100mg) respectively. Further hydroalcoholic extract of 100 and 200mg/kg/p.o significantly (p˂0.01) reduced the gastric pH, ulcer index in aspirin induced ulcer models in rats. The findings of this study confirmed that L. candidum extract has anti-ulcer pharmacologic activity due to one or more of the secondary metabolites present in it. Therefore, this study validates its anti-ulcer use in Indian folk medicine. Further investigations on isolation of specific phytochemicals and elucidating mechanisms of action are needed.

Keywords: Lilium candidum, Phytochemical constituents, Antiulcer, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Aspirin-induced gastric ulcer.