Anti-Ulcer and Antioxidant Activity of Methanolic Extract of Celosia Argentea Root in Experimental Animal Models

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-ulcer and antioxidant activities of the methanolic extract of Celosia argentea root in various experimentally induced gastric ulcer models in rats. The roots were extracted successively using petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, saponins, triterpenes and glycosides in the methanolic extract. Acute toxicity studies indicated the safety of the extract up to 1000 mg/kg body weight. Anti-ulcer activity was evaluated using aspirin-induced, alcohol-induced, stress-induced and pylorus ligation-induced gastric ulcer models. The methanolic extract was administered orally at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, while lansoprazole (8 mg/kg) served as the standard drug. The extract exhibited significant gastroprotective activity in all ulcer models. Methanolic extract at 200 mg/kg showed percentage protection of 94.854%, 91.837%, 81.876% and 93.686% in aspirin-induced, alcohol-induced, stress-induced and pylorus ligation-induced ulcers respectively. The extract also significantly reduced gastric juice volume, free acidity and total acidity while increasing gastric pH in pylorus ligated rats. Antioxidant studies demonstrated inhibition of lipid peroxidation, superoxide anion scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and reducing power. The observed anti-ulcer activity may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids and other phytoconstituents possessing antioxidant and cytoprotective properties.