STUDIES ON ANTIULCER AGENTS .1. THE EFFEC TS OF VARIOUS METHANOL AND AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF CRUDE DRUGS ON ANTIULCER ACTIVITY

The antiulcer activities of 59 methanol and aqueous extracts obtained from 59 crude drugs on the ethanol-HCl-induced ulceration in rats were investigated. Among them 15 extracts were selected and they were furt her examined for their effects on indomethacin-, aspirin- and the wate r-immersion stress-induced ulcer. From these results, the methanol ext ract of root of Iris germanica was found to show potent antiulcer acti vities. The above methanol extract was separated into 3 portions by so lvent extration, and the ether soluble portion was fractionated into 5 fractions (1 to 5) by chromatography. Fractions 4 and 5 showed signif icant antiulcer activities. Fraction 4 was further purified and the ob tained gamma-irigermanal exhibited a potent antiulcer activity. Howeve r, further investigations are required to understand the mechanism.