Anti-ulcer Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Alstonia scholaris Bark: An in vivo and in silico Approach

Aims: The present research is focused on screening in vivo anti-ulcer activity using pylorus ligation and ethanol induced ulcer model.  Study Design: Fourty eight rats, randomly divided into eight groups, were used in this study. Bark of Alstonia scholaris were air-dried, ground into fine powder and used in the preparation of an ethanolic extract. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology, Osmania University, Hyderabad between December 2020 and September 2021. Methodology: Ethanol related ulcer was induced using 1 mL/kg b.w, p.o. Treated rats received ethanolic extract of Alstonia scholaris at various doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. Ulcer index, % ulcer protection were calculated and histological studies were conducted at 6 hr after pylorous ligation respectively. Results: Pharmacological estimations were done by means of 200 mg/kg, b.w. and 400 mg/kg, b.w. The total acidity and free acidity were decreased, pH was increased and ulcer index was decreased by Ethanolic extract of Alstonia scholaris (EEAS 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w., p.o.) in pylorus ligation model. Treatment with EEAS (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. p.o.) has significantly decreased the ulcer index by ethanol induced ulcer model. To appreciate the ligand-binding attraction of the dynamic ingredients of the excerpt, docking trainings were accomplished for natural compounds against protein data bank (PDB) ID: 5A5N, PDB ID: 6Q2T, PDB ID: 7MBX, PDB ID: 2FV5. The results revealed that vanillic acid, venoterpine, loganetin, dibutyl phthalate, guaia-3,9- diene, 3,6-Bis[2-methylphenyl]-2,5-dihydropyrrolo[3,4-c] pyrrole-1,4- dione, 2H-1-Benzopyran- 2-one,7-acetyl-8-[acetyloxy]-4, n-hexadecanoic acid, stigmasterol, diospyrolide, D- Friedoolean-14-en-3-one, betulin, lupeol acetate, pentanoic acid and standard drug omeprazole had shown highest glide scores with all the selected proteins which indicate a stronger receptor-ligand binding affinity. Conclusion: From in vivo and in silico results it is evident that ethanolic bark extract of Alstonia scholaris possessed significant anti-ulcer activity.