RRJoLS (2015) 1-8 © STM Journals 2015. All Rights Reserved Page 1 Research & Reviews: A Journal of Life Sciences ISSN: 2249-8656(online), ISSN: 2348-9545(print) Volume 5, Issue 3 www.stmjournals.com Anti-Ulcer Activity of Methanolic Extract of Mucuna Pruriens Seed on Indomethacin Induced Ulcers in Albino Rats Iswar Hazarika 1 *, Panner Selvam 1 , Anju Das 2 1 Department of Pharmacology, T John College of Pharmacy, Gottigere, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India 2 Department of Pharmacology, the Oxford College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, Karnataka, India Abstract The present study was intended to investigate and evaluate the antiulcer activity of the methanol seed extract of Mucuna pruriens using indomethacin induced ulcer in albino rats and to determine its link between oxidant or antioxidant parameter. The extract of Mucuna pruriens was tested on indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in albino rats. The antiulcer activity of high dose (400 mg/kg) and low dose (200 mg/kg) of ethanolic extract of Mucuna pruriens was assessed by measuring the ulcerative area and percentage reduction of ulcerative area, which was compared with a standard drug misoprostol. To determine the underlying mechanism for its antiulcer activity, the oxidant/antioxidant parameters like glutathione peroxidase (GPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) enzyme were measured in the gastric tissues. Pretreatment of ethanolic extract both high dose and low dose showed significant (p<0.001) decrease in the ulcerative area as compared to the control and was almost as effective as the standard misoprostol. In rats given ethanolic extract, all of the investigated antioxidant parameters increased, except for catalase (CAT). Conversely, aside from myeloperoxidase (MPO), all oxidant parameters decreased. In conclusion, the antiulcer activity of Mucuna pruriens may be due to its antioxidant property. Keywords: Mucuna pruriens, indomethacin induced ulcer, ulcer area, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione *Author for Correspondence E-mail: iswarhazarika@gmail.com INTRODUCTION Gastric ulcer is a symptomatic gastrointestinal disorder that affects a considerable number of people in the world. Its development and progression depends to some extent on the type of the food consumed by the patient. Studies have shown that spicy, fatty or foods containing caffeine stimulates acid secretion in stomach and increase the risk of ulcer formation [1]. Pathogenesis of peptic ulcer lies in the localized loss of gastric as well as duodenal mucosa. It arises when the normal mucosal defensive factors such as mucus, mucosal blood flow, formation of bicarbonate ions and prostaglandin E 2 are impaired or over powered. Also by the aggressive factor includes acid, pepsin, NSAIDs and Helicobacter pylori [2]. Gastric ulcer resulted from persistent erosions and damage of the stomach wall that might become perforated and developed into peritonitis and massive hemorrhage as a result of inhibition in the synthesis of mucus, bicarbonate and prostaglandins [3]. Side effects are the major limitation of the presently available commercial antiulcer drugs. For example, histamine H 2 -receptor antagonists (e.g. cimitidine) may cause gynecomastia in men and galactorrhea in women while proton pump inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole and lansoprazol) can cause nausea, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. Due to those side effects, there is a need to find new antiulcerogenic compound with potentially less or no side effect. Medicinal plants have always been the main sources of new drugs candidates for the treatment of gastric ulcer [4].