Effects of Aqueous Extract of Blighia sapida Leaves on Ethanol- Induced Gastric Ulcer in Male Wistar Rats.

Abstract

Blighia sapida have shown promising ameliorative effect in folkloric treatment of gastric ulcer with little or no scientific basis. This study investigated the effect of Aqueous Extract of Blighia sapida Leaves (AEBSL) on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in male Wistar rats. Sixty-four male Wistar rats, weighing averagely 200g, were randomly selected into eight groups; Group I (Control) received  distilled water, Group II received 200 mg/kg body weight of AEBSL only, Group III  received cimetidine 50 mg/kg.b.w, Group IV (ulcerated untreated) orally pretreated with 50% absolute ethanol for gastric ulceration. Groups V, VI and VII were ulcerated groups treated with AEBSL at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w and Group VIII, ulcerated group treated with cimetidine at 50 mg/kg b.w. Ulcer index, hematological and antioxidant parameters were determined using   standard  methods after 21 days of treatments.Results showed that  pH level of gastric secretion, total protein, bicarbonate, Red Blood Cell and  Hemoglobin concentrations were  significantly (p<0.05) decreased in ulcerated untreated animals (Group IV) compared with control and extract only group. However, the effects were reversed in a concentration dependent manner in treated Groups (V, VI, VII and VIII). Also, Superoxide dismutase and Catalase activities as well as Reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration   were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in ulcerated untreated animals, while treatment Groups V, VI, VII and VIII  significantly (p<0.05) elevated the enzymes activities and GSH concentrations in a concentration dependent manner.  Alkaline phosphatase and Pepsin activities  as well as ulcer Index (UI), Free  and Total acidity, White Blood Cell, Platelet, Nitric oxide and Malondialdehyde  concentrations were  significantly (p<0.05) increased in ulcerated untreated animals, while they were restored near to  control level in the treated Groups (V, VI, VII and VIII) at different concentrations .Cimetidine, at 50 mg/kg b. w exhibits similar ameliorative effect  comparably with  AEBSL at 200 mg/kg b. w, while the extract showed  antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and ameliorative effects on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats.

Keywords: Ameliorative, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Blighia sapida, Cimetidine, Gastric ulcer.