RESUMO
This study was carried out to investigate the ulcero–protective activity of methanolic extract of Acacia ataxacantha leaves (MEAAL) against indomethacin and stress induced gastric ulcer in experimental rats. Study Design: Administration of MEAAL at the dose of 100mg/kg body weight and 200mg/kg body weight and evaluation of its ulcero-protective activity. Place and Duration of Study: The experiments were conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin between September 2012 to May 2013. Methodology: Acacia ataxacantha leaves were extracted with 95% methanol. MEAAL at the dose of 100 and 200mg/kg body weights were administered to male albino rats 30 minutes before the administration of indomethacin and subjecting to stress. Ranitidine was used as a standard antiulcer drug. Animals were then sacrificed and various gastric parameters assessed were gastric ulcer indices, gastric pH levels, gastric ulcer percentage inhibition, which were done in order to explore the ulcero-protective potential of the plant. Results: Induction of ulcer by the intraperitoneal administration of indomethacin and forcing rats to undergo stress by swimming resulted in increased ulcer index and decreased pH. Rats pretreated with MEAAL (100 and 200mg/kg body weights) showed significant reduction in ulcer index to indomethacin and stress induced ulcer models in a dose dependent manner when compared to the negative control group. Also, the significant decrease in the gastric pH levels of both ulcer models, were normalized by MEAAL. The various percentages of gastric ulcers inhibition were statistically significant (P<.05) in the groups pretreated with MEAAL. The overall effect of the extract was comparable to that of the standard drug (ranitidine) used. Conclusion: These findings validated the potentials of Acacia ataxacantha leaves as an ulcero-protective agent and provides a scientific rationale for the use of Acacia ataxacantha in Senegalese folk medicine.
RESUMO
Aim: To investigate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and ulceroprotective properties of Agave seemanniana methanolic leaf extract (MEAS) and its saponin containing fraction (SFAS), in animal models compared to standard drugs. In addition to separation and characterization of the major saponin fraction of Agave seemanniana leaves. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt, between June 2011 and March 2013. Methodology: The analgesic activity was assessed using the hot plate method and aspirin being a positive standard, the anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using the standard carrageenan-induced paw edema method against indomethacin as standard and the ethanol induced ulcer was used to record the ulcer protective effect of methanolic leaf extract of Agave seemanniana (MEAS) and saponin fraction of Agave seemanniana (SFAS). Separation and characterization techniques were used for the phytochemical study of the saponin content of the extract. Results: The results of analgesic activity of MEAS and SFAS using the hot plate test, revealed significant increase in the reaction time at dose of 100mg/kg b.wt. The same dose of the two test drugs demonstrated significant ulcer protective activity. The results of anti-inflammatory activity revealed that the reduction of the carrageenan-induced paw edema was significant at a dose of 100mg/kg b.wt. Furthermore, SFAS contained mainly saponins of pregnane and furostanol types. The structures of three isolated and characterized saponins indicated that these saponins had a common oligosaccharide moiety linked to the aglycone C-3 position and identified as α-L- rhamnopyranosyl– (1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl- (1→4)- β-D-galactopyranosyl. Conclusion: This study contributes to the search for potent and locally available plant materials as analgesic, anti-inflammatory and ulcer protective drugs known for their high saponin content.