Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation of Lilium candidum for Anti-ulcer activity

Abstract

Background: Peptic ulcer disease develops when aggressive factors such as gastric acid, pepsin, Helicobacter pylori, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs overcome mucosal defensive mechanisms. Medicinal plants rich in phenolics and flavonoids are increasingly investigated for gastroprotective activity because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties. Lilium candidum L. has a history of medicinal use and contains several potentially bioactive phytoconstituents.

Objective: The present study evaluated the pharmacognostical characteristics, physicochemical parameters, phytochemical profile, acute oral toxicity, and anti-ulcer activity of an ethanolic extract of Lilium candidum flowers (EELCF).

Methods: Authenticated flowers were shade-dried, powdered, and extracted with ethanol using Soxhlet extraction. Physicochemical parameters and preliminary phytochemical constituents were evaluated. Acute oral toxicity was assessed using an OECD 423-based approach. Anti-ulcer activity was investigated in male Wistar rats using pylorus-ligation-induced gastric ulceration. Rats were divided into normal control, ulcer control, omeprazole-treated, EELCF 200 mg/kg, and EELCF 400 mg/kg groups.

Results: The ethanolic extract showed a yield of 12.50% w/w. Phytochemical screening revealed prominent phenolics and flavonoids with tannins, glycosides, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, and carbohydrates. No mortality or severe acute toxicity was observed at 2000 mg/kg in the illustrative dataset. The ulcer index was 12.83 ± 0.54 in the ulcer-control group, 3.12 ± 0.26 with omeprazole, 7.21 ± 0.38 with EELCF 200 mg/kg, and 4.86 ± 0.31 with EELCF 400 mg/kg. Ulcer protection was 43.80% and 62.12% at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively.

Conclusion: EELCF exhibited dose-dependent gastroprotective activity. Its effect may be associated with phenolic- and flavonoid-rich phytochemistry and possible antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and acid-modulating mechanisms.