Antiulcer activity of the crude extract from the leaves of casearia sylvestris.

In rats, administration of Casearia sylvestris extract derived from fresh and dried leaves protects stomach mucosa without changing gastric pH. In stress-induced acute lesions, the preventive effect of extract from dried leaves is more effective than extract from fresh leaves. In acetic acid-induced chronic ulcer, both extracts reduce the size of ulceration and increase the number of collagen fibers after 5 days of treatment, and these effects are similar with both extracts. These antiulcer activities of Casearia sylvestris may be due to the presence of volatile oils, tannins and triterpenerelated compounds.