EVALUATION OF ANANAS COMOSUS FRUIT FOR ANTIULCER POTENTIALS ON EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS
Abstract

Author(s): Debashis Mallik, Lokesh Deb, Bhushan Gandhare and Chiranjib Bhattacharjee

Ananas comosus(L.) Merr., commonly known as pineapple popular fruits across the glove and also popular folk medicine of India, especially of North-East India for the treatment of organ toxicity. To ju stify the scientific basis in traditional uses as gastro-protective agent, the aqueous (AEAC) and ethanol (EEAC) extracts of A. comosus ripe fruits was evaluated for Antiulcer activity using ethanol induced ulcer and Pylorus ligation model in albino rats. The extracts of ripe fruits of Ananas comosus shows significant (**p<0.01 and***P<0.001) ulcer-protective activity in dose dependent manner. The ulcer index was significantly reduces in EEAC (**p<0.01) and AEAC (***P<0.001) treated groups when compared with ulcer control group. The pH, free acidity & total acidity level were increased in ulcer control animals when compared with normal control animals and in Pylorus ligation model elevated pH, free acidity & total acidity levels were significantly reduced in EEAC (***p<0.01) and AEAC (***P<0.001) treated groups when compared with ulcer control group. The aqueous extracts were found to be most potent. The published literature shows the presence of tannins, triterpene and flavonoids in aqueous and ethanolic extracts. These observations established the ulcer-protective effect of A. comosus and justified the traditional claim. The gastro-protective activities may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids and tannins. Key Words: Ananas comosus, Anti-Ulcer, flavonoids and tannins.