RESUMO
To determine the potential antiulcer activity of methanol extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves [MEMM] using various established rat models. Ten groups of rats were used and orally administered 10% DMSO [negative control], 100 mg/kg ranitidine [positive control] or MEMM [50,250 and 500 mg/kg] followed by gastric ulcer induction either using ethanol or in-domethacin. The stomachs were collected and subjected to macroscopic and microscopic analyses. MEMM exhibited significant [p < 0.05] antiulcer activity in the ethanol, but not in the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer model. The percentage of antiulcer activity for 50-500 mg/kg MEMM ranged between 3 and 75%, respectively. The gross observations were supported by histological findings. MEMM also aggravated the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer, leading toan increasein ulcer area formation and ulcer score. The M. malabathricum leaves showed antiulcer activity, which could be attributed to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This requires further in-depth studies