Gastro-protective Properties of Acalypha torta Leaf against HCl/Ethanol-Induced Ulceration

doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v4i7.8

Authors

  • Ugochi O. Njoku Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
  • Bonaventure Uzowuru Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
  • Martins O. Ogugofor Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Acalypha torta,, Lansoprazole,, , HCl-ethanol ulcer-induction,, Ulcer index,, Histology.

Abstract

Acalypha torta is one of the plants used in the treatment of various diseases in traditional medicine. The plant is known to possess antidiarrhoeal, immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activities. Despite the ethnomedicinal uses of this plant, there is a paucity of studies on its gastroprotective activity. However, this study was designed to investigate the gastro-protective properties of Acalypha torta leaf extract. The gastro-protective effect of Acalypha torta leaf methanol extract was evaluated using HCl/ethanol ulcer-induction model. A total of twenty-four (24) animals were randomly grouped into six (6) treatment groups labelled groups 1-6. Groups 1 and 2 received 1% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Group 3 received 30 mg/kg b.w lansoprazole while groups 4-6 received 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg b.w extract, respectively. The present findings revealed that methanol extract of Acalypha torta leaf exerted gastro-protective
activity, as shown by its consistent and significant dose-dependent increase in mean ulcer index (MUI) inhibition. Histological investigation of gastric lesions showed that the plant stimulates the scarring cicatrizing process. The gastro protection observed could be attributed to the phytoconstituents of the plant extract which exerted gastro-protective and anti-ulcerogenic effects, possibly by increasing antioxidant enzymes thereby reducing oxidative stress. The gastro-protective properties of the extract could also be due to the ability of the extract to modulate the activities of H+ /K+ATPase thereby normalizing the pH of the gastric juice. The extract possesses a dose dependent gastro protective activity

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Published

2020-07-01

How to Cite

O. Njoku, U., Uzowuru, B., & O. Ogugofor, M. (2020). Gastro-protective Properties of Acalypha torta Leaf against HCl/Ethanol-Induced Ulceration: doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v4i7.8. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research (TJNPR), 4(7), 299–303. Retrieved from https://www.tjnpr.org/index.php/home/article/view/1170