Determination of ulcer protecting effect of ethanol extract of <i>Gongronema latifolium</i> in rats

Abstract

Ethanol extract of dietary vegetable, Gongronema latifolium, was evaluated for anti-ulcer activity. The extract was obtained from air-dried, pulverized leaves of the plant following its maceration in ethanol, filteration with Whatman No. 1 filter paper and drying at 110°C. Fractionation of the dry crude ethanol extract was stepwisely carried out in with n-hexane, chloroform and ethylacetate, respectively, and their residual ethanol extract washed several times in ethanol. The four fractions were dried at low temperature and stored for use. The anti-ulcer activity of the crude extract was tested on indomethacininduced and acid/ethanol-induced models of ulcer induction in rats. The activities of the fraction of the crude ethanol extract with respect, to reduction of ulcer index was evaluated only on indomethacininduced ulcer model. The crude ethanol extract significantly (p<0.05) inhibited ulceration dose - dependently in the two ulcer models. This inhibition was higher in acid/ethanol model than in the indomethacin-induced ulcer model. The sub-fractions from the crude extract also inhibited ulcer with the chloroform fraction exhibiting the highest ulcer protection.

Keywords: Gongronema latifolium, ulcer, protection, indomethacin, acid/ethanol.

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(38), pp. 5705-5708