Antiulcer and antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of Passiflora foetida L.

<i>Passiflora foetida</i> L. (Passifloraceae), a widely growing perennial climber, has been used in traditional medicine for treating many ailments. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ethanolic extract of P. foetida (EEPF) whole plant on gastric ulcer. The antiulcer effects of EEPF at 100 and 200 mg/kg doses were evaluated on ethanol and aspirin-induced gastric ulcer models. The antioxidant parameters and histological changes in gastric tissue of ulcer rats were also determined in both the models. <i>P. foetida</i> treatment significantly (<i>P</i> < 0.01) reduced the ulcer index and significantly (<i>P</i> < 0.01) increased the gastric pH of both ethanol and aspirin-induced ulcer rats. <i>P. foetida</i> showed significant (<i>P</i> < 0.01) reduction in lipid peroxidation and increase in reduced glutathione levels. The observations confirm that EEPF whole plant has antiulcer and antioxidant activities.