Present study concerns with the evaluation of gastroprotective effects of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Tabernaemontana divaricata leaves against ethanol/HCl, aspirin and indomethacin induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. Different groups of rats in each model were treated with ethanolic (TDEE) and aqueous extracts (TDAE) of Tabernaemontana divaricata leaves at the test doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. and standard drug omeprazole (20 mg/kg, p.o.). Both the extracts of Tabernaemontana divaricata leaves have provided a significant gastroprotective effects which has been confirmed by determining and comparing the ulcer index in the test group with vehicle control group. The ulcer index in the test group (treated animals) was found to be significantly less in all the models compared to vehicle control animals. Among the extracts, TDEE at higher dose i.e. 400 mg/kg, p.o. was found to have a significant gastroprotective effects in all the models, further, which has been confirmed by a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in ulcer index in the test groups which is comparable to standard drug omeprazole (P < 0.001). Thus the present study supports the traditional folklore claim and reveals that the leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata possess Gastroprotective activity.
