Study of Ulcer Protective Effect of Ipomea batatas (L.) Dietary Tuberous Roots (Sweet Potato)

Peptic ulcer is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorder, commonly occurs in developed countries. The present work was carried out to evaluate antiulcer effect of Ipomoea batatas (L) dietary tuberous roots. The Ethanolic extract of Ipomoea batatas (EEIB) was prepared by dynamic maceration for 7 days at room temperature using 70% ethanol (V/V). The antiulcer activity was evaluated by the Pylorus Ligation (PL) and cold restraint stress (CRS) Induced Ulcer models. Male Wister rats were divided into four groups of 3 animals each for both models and received Normal saline10ml/kg, Famotidine 20 mg/kg, EEIB at 250 & 500 mg/kg respectively. After 1 h of Standard and test treatments pyloric ligation was performed and gastric pH, total acidity, free acidity, total protein, pepsin, ulcer score and ulcer index were determined. In CRS model, drugs were administered orally 30 min prior to subjecting the animals to cold stress (2°C for 3 hours), then ulcer score and ulcer index were determined. Results were mean ± SEM (n=3) and analysed using one way ANOVA followed by Dunnett test. p < 0.05 was considered significant when compared with the toxicant groups. In PL model EEIB significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the ulcer index by 55.24% and 61.45% at 250 & 500 mg/kg doses respectively. In CRS model, both the doses of EEIB significantly (p < 0.01) reduced ulcer index by 51.35% (250 mg/kg) and 75.68% (500 mg/kg). The Ipomoea batatas roots possess anti ulcer activity as evidenced by its significant inhibitory effects on PL and CRS induced ulcers.