406 Afroza Bashir et al. / International Journal of Phytopharmacology. 5(6), 2014, 406-410. e- ISSN 0975 – 9328 Print ISSN 2229 – 7472 International Journal of Phytopharmacology Journal homepage: www.onlineijp.com ANTI – ULCER ACTIVITY OF POLYHERBAL FORMULATION – RO12 ON EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED ULCER IN RATS Afroza Bashir * , Iswar Hazarika, Jaikumar S, Akila KP, Shefeer KA The Oxford College of Pharmacy, Begur Main Road, Hongasandra, Bangalore -560068, India. ABSTRACT RO12, a polyherbal formulation, is a marketed drug which has been used in various gastrointestinal problems, however, there is no such clear documentation for antiulcer activity. So, the present study was carried out to test its antiulcer activity in rats using different models. Wistar rats were grouped into four, each group with 6 animals and injected with Normal Saline (control), Ranitidine 50 mg/kg (Standard drug), RO12 aqueous extract 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg (test drug) per orally in case of pylorus ligation model. In case of ethanol induced ulcer, misoprostol 10 mcg/kg was given as standard keeping everything else same as pylorus ligation method. Acute gastric ulceration in rats was produced by oral administration of ethanol and by pylorus‐ligated technique. The results showed that in both pylorus ligation and ethanol induced ulcer models, the aqueous extract RO12 exhibited significant decrease (P<0.001) in ulcer index, ulcer score, free acidity, total acidity, pepsin content in pylorus ligation induced ulcer as well as in ethanol induced ulcer models. This study demonstrated that, RO12 polyherbal formulation possess significant antiulcer activity. The aqueous extract of RO12 possesses dose dependent antiulcer effect. Current studies confirmed the claimed antiulcer activity in selected doses (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg). Key words: Polyherbal Formulation, RO12, Antiulcer, Pyloric ligation. INTRODUCTION Ulcer is a symptomatic gastrointestinal disorder resulting as a breach in the mucosal membrane of the alimentary tract, which passes through the muscularis mucosa into the submucosa or deeper Peptic ulcer diseases (PUD) most commonly occur when the linings of stomach, so called duodenal ulcer (DU) are corroding by the acid-peptic juices (Tham et al., 2001). Acid peptic diseases include hyperacidity, gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD), stress induced mucosal erosions and peptic ulcers (gastric as well as duodenal). The corrosive action of pepsin and hydrochloric acid on the mucosa of upper gastrointestinal tract is related to both gastric as well as duodenal ulcers. Peptic ulcer arises when the normal mucosal defensive factors (mucus, mucosal blood flow, formation of bicarbonate and PGE) are impaired or Corresponding Author Afroza Bashir Email: afrozab662@gmail.com over powered by the aggressive factors (acid, pepsin, epithelial cell restoration) (Sharma et al., 2007, Gilmann et al., 2006, Barar FSK, 2003). The other causes which leads to PUD include Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, long term and high dose of drugs like NSAID’s, diseases like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and other factors which includes various psychological factors like smoking, stress and alcohol consumption to larger extent. Incidence is higher in the third world and the life time risk of developing PUD is 10% (Peckenpaugh et al., 1997). Various plants are being used in complementary and alternative medicines for management of gastric ulcer, because of their minimum toxicity and more effectiveness. According to practitioners of traditional medicine, a combination of herbs exhibits augmented therapeutic efficacy than a single herb (Toews et al., 2005). The Poly herbal formulation RO12 is a marketed drug, which contains: Glycyrrhiza glabra, Rosa damascena, Citrus aurantifolia, Aegles marmelos, Saccharum officinarium and Eletteria cardomum as IJP