RESUMO
Introduction: In Ethiopia, traditionally, the leaves of Calpurnia aurea have been utilized to treat peptic ulcer disease. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to examine the antiulcer activity of Calpurnia aurea hydromethanolic leaf extract and solvent fractions in rats. Methods: The ulcer-healing potential of the crude test extract was assessed in rats by adopting pyloric ligation-, acidified ethanol-, and acetic acid-induced ulcer methods; while, in solvent fractions, the acidified ethanol-induced ulcer model was used. In all models, three serial test doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) were given and the antiulcer activity was investigated. Standard drugs like sucralfate (100 mg/kg), omeprazole (20 mg/kg), and cimetidine (100 mg/kg) have been used as a positive control; whereas distilled water (10 mL/kg) was used as the negative control. Parameters like ulcer index, total acidity, pH, gastric volume, and gastric mucin level were all measured. Results: In an acute toxicity study, the test extract at the limit test dose (2 g/kg) was safe following a single dose administration. In pyloric ligation-induced ulcers, the plant extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly reduced the ulcer index, the volume of stomach secretion, and total acidity while raising gastric pH and mucus content (P < 0.05). Likewise, in the acidified ethanol- and acetic acid-induced ulcer models, the extract at both test doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) also displayed a substantial reduction (P < 0.05) in ulcer index. Among the fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction revealed remarkable cytoprotective activity at all test doses and the aqueous fraction at 400 mg/kg (P < 0.05). In contrast, the effect of chloroform fraction was found to be negligible. The peak ulcer inhibition was noted at 400 mg/kg of ethyl acetate fraction (52.4%). Conclusion: The study showed that the crude extract and solvent fractions possess remarkable antiulcer activity.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Urtica simensis has been used for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease in Ethiopian folkloric medicine by drinking its juice after boiling the semicrushed leaf. To our latest understanding, no in vivo study was available regarding its antiulcer activity. The present study was done to appraise the ulcer-protective and ulcer healing activity of hydromethanolic crude extract of leaf of U. simensis in rats. METHODS: Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening and oral acute toxicity were carried out using a standard protocol. To validate U. simensis in vivo antiulcer potential pyloric ligature, cold restraint stress and acetic acid-induced ulcer models were employed. The extracts (100, 200, and 400 mg per kg of body weight per day), standard treatment (omeprazole 20 mg/kg/day), and vehicle (distilled water 10 ml/kg/day) were given to treatment, positive, and negative controls by oral gavage, respectively. Parameters were then evaluated accordingly after the humane scarification of rats. RESULTS: Any sign of toxicity was not observed in the oral acute toxicity test. The crude extracts exerted a significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of ulcer risk compared to the negative control. In the pylorus ligation-induced ulcer model, its antisecretory activity was in a dose-dependent manner. The highest gastroprotective effect (67.68%) was exhibited by the 400 mg/kg/day dose of 80% methanolic crude extract. Regarding the chronic ulcer model, treatment at a dosage of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day cures ulcers by 33.54%, 58.33%, and 67.07%, respectively, as compared to the negative control groups remarkably. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study confirmed the safety and a promising in vivo ulcer healing and antiulcerogenic activity of U. simensis, thus supporting the traditional claim. In-depth investigations on the plant, however, are highly recommended.
