Morphological presentation of the ameliorative effects of Bryophyllum pinnatum on alcohol-induced gastric injury in adult Wistar rats

Abstract

Bryophyllum pinnatum is a plant, reported for its variety of ethno-medicinal uses. This study was undertaken to determine the  morphological changes brought about by Bryophyllum pinnatum on alcohol-induced gastric injury. Whole plant of Bryophyllum pinnatum was successfully extracted with water. Low dose aqueous extract of the plant (150 mg/kg body weight), moderate dose (300 mg/kg body weight) and high dose (600 mg/kg body weight) were administered. Thirty (30) healthy adult wistar rats of both sexes were divided into six (6) groups (A to F) of five rats each. Group A received feeds and water only. Gastric mucosal injury was
induced in Group B to F using 80% ethanol after 24 hours fasting with free access to water. Group C, D and E received aqueous extracts of the Bryophyllum pinnatum, (150, 300, 600 mg/kg body weight respectively). Group F received 20mg Omeprazole. The treatment lasted for a duration of twenty-eight days. Weekly weight measurement of individual rats was carried out. The rats were sacrificed an hour after the last dose and the stomach harvested and processed for histological analysis. The study established the anti-ulcer properties of Bryophyllum pinnatum, and demonstrated that the aqueous extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum restored the
histological integrity of the stomach mucosa, with the group given 600 mg/kg body weight extract achieving the best ameliorative effect. The groups given the extract also demonstrated increase in weight.

Key words: Bryophyllum pinnatum, morphological presentation, alcohol induced gastric injury, aqueous extracts.