Influence of Aqueous Extract of Red Chillis Pepper as Curative for Gastric Ulcer in Albino Rats

Abstract

The present study was carried out elucidate the effect of aqueous extracts of red chillis pepper (Capsicum frutescence) at three doses on the length of gastric ulcer induced by aspirin in rats. Thirty adult male albino rats (Sprague Dawley Strain) weight 175±5g were used and divided into 5 groups, each of 6 rats. The first group was used as a control negative (-ve) and fed on the basal ration only, other groups had given aspirin orally (200 mg/kg B.Wt.), one of these groups left as control +ve (ulcerated rats) and other groups administrated with aqueous extract of red chillis pepper (RCP) at doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg B.Wt. for seven days. The length of gastric ulcer, volume of gastric juice, pH value and histopathological changes of gastric were examined. The results revealed that oral administration of RCP extract at 250, 500 and 750mg/kg B.Wt. reduced the length of gastric ulcer. On the other hand, all extracts increased pH value of gastric juice compared to control (-ve) group, meanwhile the volume of gastric juice decreased by plant extracts specially for rats feed on RCP at dose 750 mg\Kg B.Wt. Oral administration of water plant extracts decreased histopathological changes in the stomach layers and mucosa. The present study suggests that, Capsicum frutescence could be used for healing acute gastric ulcer disease and implemented for gastric ulcer patients.

Key words: aqueous extracts, Capsicum frutecens, aspirin ulcer, stomach, histopathological changes, pH value and gastric juice.