EVALUATION OF GASTROPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF COMBRETUM MOOREANUM LEAF
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2026v18i5.57131Keywords:
Acidified ethanol-induced ulcer, Aspirin-induced ulcer, Combretum mooreanum, Ethanol-induced ulcer, Indomethacin-induced ulcerAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antiulcer activity of the leaves of C. mooreanum.
Methods: Methanol-dichloromethane extract of C. mooreanum (MDECM) was prepared and used for the study. The antiulcer activity of the leaf extract was evaluated in vivo using ethanol-, acidified ethanol-, aspirin-, and indomethacin-induced ulcers in rats. The MDECM was also subjected to phytochemical analysis.
Results: The MDECM showed a significant reduction in ulcer index in the four models. Compared to the other treatment doses, the 200 mg/kg demonstrated the highest inhibition in acidified ethanol-and aspirin-induced models, and was only marginally more effective than 400 mg/kg in the indomethacin-induced gastric lesion models. The MDECM (400 mg/kg) elicited a higher reduction of ulcer index compared to the standard drug, omeprazole, in the ethanol-induced ulcer model (p<0.05). Also, the highest inhibition of gastric ulcer elicited by MDECM in the other three models were comparable to that of the standard drug. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenolics, saponins, terpenoids, anthocyanins, and glycosides in MDECM.
Conclusion: C. mooreanum effectively protected the gastric mucosa against ulcer, supporting its traditional use in the treatment of gastric ulcers. Further studies are ongoing to isolate and characterize the active molecule(s).
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Copyright (c) 2026 Adaobi Chioma Ezike, Maryjane Mmesoma Nzelu, Epiphania Chinaecherem Nwoye, Chinonyelum Agbo, Ebere Nwamaka Okonkwo, John Olusegun Medewase, Ifechukwu Kenneth Ufere
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