Gastrointestinal studies of Pyrenacantha staudtii leaf extracts.

The main constituents of the ethanol extract of Pyrenacantha staudtii leaves were identified to be triterpenoid saponins and orally this extract was shown to protect rats from developing gastric ulcers induced by various experimental models: drugs (indomethacin, serotonin), cold-restraint stress and Shay rat. The protection was shown to be dose-dependent in the case of indomethacin-induced ulcers. The mechanisms by which the triterpenoids of P. staudtii may exhibit anti-ulcer activities are discussed.