The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of ethanolic extract of Aerva lanata linn., flower in experimentally immobilization stress induced Gastric ulcers in rats. Rats were divided into six different groups each having six. Group 1 served as a control, Group 2 received immobilisation stress (daily 1hr), Group 3, 4 and 5 served as extract treatment groups and received 50, 100, & 200 mg/kg orally, ethanolic extract of Aerva lanata flower and Group 6 served as standard group was received Ranitidine (20 mg/kg) orally. All the treatment protocols followed 15 days and after which rats were sacrificed, blood and stomach were taken for biochemical and Ulceration studies, respectively. The immobilisation stress treated group rats (G2) showed variable increase in serum Total protein, Total cholesterol, Triglycerideâs, Glucose, ALT, and ALP levels. Administration of ethanolic extracts of Aerva lanata linn., flower significantly prevented immobilisation stress induced elevation in the levels of serum diagnostic enzymes alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), levels in experimental groups of rats. Moreover, total protein levels were significantly increased in treatment groups. The effect of extract was compared with a standard drug (Ranitidine). The changes in biochemical parameters were supported by histological profile. It is concluded that the ethanolic extract of Aerva lanata flower protects against immobilisation stress induced gastric ulcers in rats. In the present study treatment with Aerva lanata flower extract significantly decreased the elevated levels of Glucose, ALT, ALP, Triglyserides, glucose and increased the levels of Total proteins. From the results indicated that the ulcer protective activity of Aerva lanata flower may be due to the presence of several biochemical compounds. It is thus apparent that Aerva lanata possesses an ulcer protective activity.
