Studies on Antiulcer Agents. I. The Effects of Various Methanol and Aqueous Extracts of Crude Drugs on Antiulcer Activity

Abstract

The antiulcer activities of 59 methanol and aqueous extracts obtained from 59 crude drugs on the ethanol-HCl-induced ulceration in rats were investigated. Among them 15 extracts were selected and they were further examined for their effects on indomethacin-, aspirin- and the water-immersion stress-induced ulcer. From these results, the methanol extract of root of Iris germanica was found to, show potent antiulcer activities. The above methanol extract was separated into 3 portions by solvent extraction, and the ether soluble portion was fractionated into 5 fractions (1 to 5) by chromatography. Fractions 4 and 5 showed significant antiulcer activities. Fraction 4 was further purified and the obtained gamma-irigermanal exhibited a potent antiulcer activity. However, further investigations are required to understand the mechanism.