Antiulcer Activities of Securidaca longepedunculata Fres. (Polygalaceae) and Luffa cylindrica Linn. (Cucurbitaceae) in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Securidaca longepedunculata (SL) and Luffa cylindrica (LC) are medicinal plants commonly used in combination with other recipes in the treatment of many ailments in traditional medicine among the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria. In our recent survey, the two plants were among the most frequently mentioned plants for the treatment of gastric ulcer in Ado Odo local government area of Ogun state, Nigeria. This study was designed to examine whether the leaf extracts (methanol, ethylacetate and hexane extracts) of SL and LC possess antiulcer effect in rats. The antiulcer effects of the extracts were assessed using ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model of ulceration in rats. The vehicle, test drug or plant extracts were administered 50 min prior to ulcerogenic procedure. Ulceration was induced in animals with 1 mL absolute ethanol one hour before being sacrificed. Ulcer index, protein content and lipid peroxidation activity of the gastric tissues were determined. The standard antiulcer drug, Cimetidine (50 mg/kg b.w), used as negative control, has percentage protection of 59.4% and the methanol (150 and 300 mg/kg b.w), ethylacetate (150 and 300 mg/kg b.w) and hexane (150 and 300 mg/kg b.w) extracts of SL showed (68.8% and 78.1%) , (93.8% and 87.5%) and (71.9% and 75.0%), protection, respectively. Similarly, the 150 mg/kg b.w ethyl acetate extract of LC gave 78.1% inhibition while the 300 mg/kg ethyl acetate extract revealed 87.5% protection. Further, investigation showed that the extracts increased the protein content in the gastric tissues which suggests an ability to stimulate tissue regeneration. Lipid peroxidation levels were significantly (p<0.05) lowered in the pretreated groups. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that the leaf extracts of SL and LCare possible potent gastro protective and antiulcer agents against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer thus providing evidences that may justify their ethno medicinal uses as antiulcer agents

Keywords: Securidaca longepedunculata, Luffa cylindrica, Ethanol-induced, Ulceration, Gastro Protective