Studies on the anti-ulcer activity of a Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract in experimental animals.

A methanolic fraction from an extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves was found to possess significant anti-ulcer activity in nine different experimental animals models. Premedication tests in rats revealed that the extract possessed significant protective action against the gastric lesions induced by aspirin, indomethacin, serotonin, reserpine, stress and ethanol. Significant protection with extract treatment was observed to occur for aspirin-induced ulcer in pylorus-ligated rats and for histamine-induced duodenal lesions in guinea pigs. Significant enhancement of the healing process was also found to occur in acetic acid-induced chronic gastric lesions in rats.