Evaluation of antiulcer activity of Rhinacanthus nasutus (l.) Leaves in rats * S. Chand Basha 1 , Y. Pradeep Kumar 1 , Dr.M.William Carey 2 , K. Mallikarjuna Rao 1 , B. Nirmala Devi 1 , C.Gopinath 1 1 Annamacharya College of Pharmacy, Rajampet -516126, Kadapa, A.P (INDIA) 2 Head of Department of Pharmacy, Govt. Polytechnic for Womrn, Kakinada – 533 003. Received on 25 – 02 - 2015 Revised on 17 – 03- 2015 Accepted on 27– 03 – 2015 ABSTRACT Ethanolic extract of Rhinacanthus nasutus was evaluated for its antiulcer activity against pyloric ligation induced ulcer in Wister rats. The ethanolic extract of Rhinacanthus nasutus at the dose rate 400mg/kg an 200 mg/kg per orally exhibited significant protection against pyloric ligation induced gastric ulceration .The present investigation revealed that Rhinacanthus nasutus exhibited significant antiulcer activity by enhancing potential of gastric mucosa thereby reducing mucosal damage. Key Words: Antiulcer activity, Herbal Drug, Pyloric ligation induced gastric ulceration INTRODUCTION Rhinacanthus nasutus more commonly known as Rangchita, Nagamalli which belong to the family Acanthacea, is a shade loving perennial shrub. Plant has been recently used in the treatment of hepatitis, diabetes, hypertension and skin diseases in Taiwan. The decoction of its roots or whole plant is drunk for treatment of some cancer forms. It has long been used in Thai traditional medicine for disease like pruritic rash, ring worm, abscess, pain, skin disease, and plant extract has inhibitory activity against different species of bacteria and fungi. The aim of our study was to investigate the Antiulcer activity of Ethanolic extract by pyloric ligation induced ulcer model. Author for Correspondence Mr. S. Chand Basha Assistant Professor, Department Of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Annamacharya College of Pharmacy, New Boyanapalli -516126, Rajampet, Kadapa Dt, A.P E-mail Id: schandbasha20@gmail.com Mobile No: +919491410997. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant Materials: The fresh leaves of Rhinacanthus nasutus were collected from Tirumala Hills, Tirupati and Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh in the month of July - October and identified by Dr. K. Madhava Chetty, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, S.V.University and Tirupati. Preparation of Extract:The powdered Leaves of Rhinacanthus nasutus was extracted with n-Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl acetate and Ethanol successively by Soxhlation method and concentrated over water bath and evaporated under reduced pressure. The Ethanolic extract was chosen for Anti ulcer activity. Chemicals: n-Hexane, Chloroform, Ethanol, Ranitidine EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Pyloric Ligation Induced Ulcer Model Before going for pyloric ligation the animals were anaesthetized with Diethyl ether before the surgical procedure. The dorsal surface of each rat was shaved with a sterile surgical blade under all aseptic measures and skin was cleaned with 70% ethanol. Pyloric ligation method 1 in this method albino rats were fasted in individual cages for 24 h. Care was being taken to avoid coprophagy. Reference/ standard drug, test & control vehicle was administered 30 min prior to pyloric ligation. Under light ether anesthesia, the abdomen was opened and Research Paper ISSN: 2230 – 7583 S. Chand Basha, et al. / International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Research IJAPR Available Online through www.ijapronline.org IJAPR /April. 2015/ Vol. 6/Issue.04/ 99 – 101 99