LAUSR

The present study investigated the antiulcer/gastro-protective effects of aqueous extract obtained from Vernonia kotschyana roots on two animal models of gastric ulcer induced by indomethacin and, respectively, absolute ethanol. The extract proved to have weak in vitro antioxidant activity on scavenging free radicals (ABTS radical cation, superoxide and nitric oxide) and weak ability of ferrous ions chelating. FT-IR analysis showed the presence of carbohydrates (polysaccharides) and saponins in the aqueous extract. The results of antiulcer activity study showed that Vernonia aqueous extract is efficient on indomethacin-induced ulcer model (ED50 = 557.12 ± 38.29 mg/kg b.w.) and has gastro-protective activity on absolute ethanol-induced ulcer model (ED50 = 439.85 ± 5.67 mg/kg b.w.). Further studies are needed to elucidate other mechanisms through which the aqueous extract exerts antiulcer/gastro-protective effects. Sub-fractionation of the extract may reveal the presence of novel compounds with antiulcer/gastro-protective activity.