Abstract:
The mature leaves of Murraya koenigii
(Spreng.) (Family, Rutaceae, Karapincha in Sinhala and
Karuvembu in T a m i l ) are commonly used in Sri L a n k a for
flavouring soups, vegetables and meat dishes [1]. Many
Ayruvedic physicians in Sri Lanka also prescribe these
leaves for constipation, abdominal c o l i c , diarrhoea and hiccough
[ i ]. On the other hand, some practitioners o f Sri L a n ka
folk medicine make staggering claims that M. koenigii has
the ability to impair the development of gastric ulcers. The
validity of these claims, hitherto, has not been scientifically
proven.
The a im o f the present study was to investigate whether the
mature leaves o f M. koenigii possess gastroprotective activity
as is claimed, and i f present, to evaluate the possible mechanisms
of action. T h i s was done with a water extract of M.
koenigii leaves given to rats, using alcoho! as the gastric
ulcerogen
