Ulcer Protective and Spasmolytic Activity of Aqueous Extract of Solanum nigrum Leaves in Experimental Rats

Ethno pharmacological relevance: Solanum nigrum Linn. (solanaceae) is a widely growing and cultivated traditional medicinal plant mainly used for the treatment of gastric illness and mouth ulcer. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the activity of aqueous leaves extract of Solanum nigrum Linn on irritable bowel syndrome and gastric ulcers. Materials and methods: Ulcer protective and anti spasmodic effect was investigated in cold restraint stress, aspirin induced and pyloric ligated ulcer models on experimental rats. The aqueous leaf extract of Solanum nigrum (SNALE) was given orally in two doses of 200mg/kg, and 400mg/kg. The dose of 400mg/kg significantly inhibited the gastric ulcer induced by all three models when compared with the serum parameters’ like Pylorus ligated (PL), Aspirin induced ulcerogenesis (APL) and cold resistant stress induced ulcer (CRSU) with the standard drug omperazole. Anti spasmodic effect of Solanum nigrum was determined by rat ileum contractility. Presence of quercetin in the extract was responsible for the anti-spasmodic effect.Results: The aqueous leaf extract of Solanum nigrum significantly (p<0.001) inhibited ulcer index, total and free acidity and significantly (p<0.01) shows gastroprotective in pylorus ligation and aspirin induced gastric ulcer models. This extract also significantly (p<0.01) shows spasmolytic effect in ileum contraction model.Conclusion: These results suggested that aqueous extract of Solanum nigrum leaves shows gastro protective, spasmolytic effect and anti-secretory effect.