Gastroprotective potentials of the methanolic extract of Garcinia kola in rats

Abstract

Background: There is a claim in the folklore medicine of the use of Garcinia kola (GK) seeds in the management of gastritis and gastric ulcer. However, there has not been any scientific evidence in the literature that substantiated or refuted this with regards to the management of gastritis and gastric ulcerations in association with gastric morphological damage and cytoarchitectural changes. Aim: This study aims at evaluating the efficacy of the methanolic extract of GK (mGK) in the management of gastritis and gastric ulcerations in rat model. Methods: Adult albino rats with comparable weight were randomized into six groups. Group A was administered 1ml/kg bw of distilled water three times daily. Group B and C were administered ethanol (0.2ml/23g bw of 80% v/v) two hours prior termination of experiment and 150mg/kg bw of mGK daily for three weeks respectively. Group D was pre-treated with mGK and then ethanol as in groups B and C. Group E was administered ethanol as in group B and posttreated with mGK as in group C. Group F was concomitantly treated with mGk as in group C and ethanol as in group B. Results: Ethanol induced gastritis and gastric ulceration. Treatment with mGK abrogated ethanolinduced gastric damage: it reduced the morphological damage score, ulcer score, gastric wall thickness, and lipid peroxidation (p<0.05), and also improved the cytoarchitecture of the gastric mucosa. Conclusion: This study substantiated the gastroprotective potentials of mGK. The mechanism of action could be associated with the anti-oxidative activities of the flavonoid constituents.

Keywords: Garcinia kola, flavonoids, gastritis, ulcer, lipid peroxidation