The histochemical and biochemical effects of coconutmilk in Wistar rats with ethanol-induced gastric ulcer

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the histochemical and biochemical effects of coconut milk in Wistar rats’ model of ethanol-induced gastric ulcer with a view to evaluating the antiulcerogenic potential of coconut milk in the management of gastric ulcer. Thirty male Wistar rats weighing between 150-180g were recruited for the study and divided into six groups of 5 rats each. All the groups were fasted for 24-hours after which group-1 received single oral administration of normal saline at 5ml/kg, while groups 2-6 received equivalent amount of ethanol. Twenty-four hours later, Groups-3, 4, 5 received oral graded doses of coconut milk at 30, 50, 70 mg/kg respectively while group 6 received omeprazole administration at 10 mg/kg every 12-hours for a period of 21 days. The ulcer index as well as Prostalglandin-E2 and Nitric Oxide concentrations was significantly (p < 0.05) lowered following treatment with omeprazole and coconut milk, when compared with the ethanol group. Coconut milk administration also attenuated the ethanol-induced histochemical distortions of the gastric pylorus. This study concluded that  coconut milk administration ameliorated ethanol-induced gastric ulcer and serves as a potential choice in the treatment of the condition.

Keywords: Gastric ulcer, Ethanol, Coconut Milk, Omeprazole, Histochemical, Biochemical