Evaluation of the Anti-ulcer Properties of the Aqueous Methanolic Leaf Extract of Palisota hirsuta and its Fractions in mice

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of aqueous methanolic leaf extract of Palisota hirsuta (MLEPH), against experimentally induced gastric ulceration in mice. Materials and methods: The plant material was extracted with 70% methanol for 48h and concentrated in vacuo with rotary evaporator, yielding 8.77%w/w MLEPH. MLEPH (50, 100, 150 mg/kg) and MLEPH fractions (MLEPHfr) (50 mg/kg) were studied in various ulcer models: acetyl salicylic acid (ASA), HCl-ethanol and cold restraint stress-induced ulcer models. Results: MLEPH at all doses used significantly reduced (P<0.05), the mean number of ulcers (MNU), while mean ulcer index (MUI) was significantly reduced by 50 and 100 mg/kg in ASA-induced ulcer compared with 10 ml/kg distilled water. The highest ulcer preventive index (UPI) of MLEPH (50 mg/kg) was 77% compared with 100 mg/kg cimetidine (83%). In the HCl-ethanol-induced gastric ulceration, MLEPH at 50 mg/kg reduced the MUI though not significantly (P>0.05) and gave a UPI of 33%. In cold restraint stress, MLEPH (50 and 100 mg/kg) decreased both MNU and MUI. However this was not significant (P>0.05) compared with the control. Both doses produced UPI of 57% compared with cimetidine (95%). The MLEPHfr7 (50 mg/kg), significantly decreased (P<0.05) MNU compared with both distilled water and cimetidine and MUI compared with cimetidine in HCl-ethanol-induced gastric ulceration. The UPI for MLEPHfr7 was 58% compared with cimetidine. The phytochemical constituents of MLEPHfr7 include tannins and reducing sugars. Conclusion: Our study shows that MLEPH and MLEPHfr exhibited promising antiulcer properties, mediated by tannins and reducing sugars through cytoprotective mechanisms. [J Intercult Ethnopharmacol 2013; 2(3.000): 141-146