Evaluation of Antiulcerogenic Effect of Dried Flower Extract of Argyreia speciosa L. against Cold-restraint Stress-induced Gastric Ulcer Model in Rats

Argyreia speciosa Linn. f., commonly known as ghav-patta that has long been used in Indian traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. This plant has been studied for aphrodisiac, nootropic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrhoeal, antihyperglycemic, antiviral, antimicrobial, nematicidal, anticonvulsant, antiulcer, analgesic, and central nervous system de-pressant activities. Argyreia speciosa dried flowers ethanolic extract (ASF) was fractionated with the help of n-hexane, chloroform, and butanol into n-hexane soluble fraction (7.5% w/w), chloroform soluble fraction (15.36% w/w), butanol soluble fraction (20.92% w/w), and an aqueous fraction (48.75% w/w) and were studied for its gastroprotective properties. For the prevention of cold-restraint stress (CRS)-induced ulcers, the ethanolic extract of Argyreia speciosa flower (ASF; 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) was given orally twice daily for five days. After 5 days, antioxidant enzyme activity, as well as different gastric secretion parameters such as gastric juice volume, acid production, and pH value, were determined. The ASF and its chloroform fractions provide gastroprotection by decreasing H⁺K⁺-ATPase activity while concurrently improving the mucosa’s defensive mechanism, according to our findings. Quercetin is a biologically active constituent of ASF. This molecule might serve as a foundation for the development of novel semi-synthetic and synthetic antiulcer drugs. Because of PGE₂ activation, the drug had no negative side effects and instead had thera-peutic properties. The dried flower extract and separated components of ASF were found to be a potential antiulcer compound.