EFFECTS OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF Spondia mombin ON SURGICALLY-INDUCED DUODENAL ULCER IN ADULT MALE WISTAR-RATS

Arayombo Babatunde Elijah*, Ale Temidayo and Ekanem Kufre Ntok

ABSTRACT

Background: Duodenal ulcer (DU) is a common gastrointestinal disorder resulting from disruption of the balance between aggressive factors and mucosal protective mechanisms. Although Spondias mombin has demonstrated gastroprotective and ulcer-healing properties, limited information is available regarding its effects on surgically-induced DU and duodenal histoarchitecture. This study investigated the effects of ethanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin on surgically induced DU in adult male Wistar rats. Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of five rats each. DU was induced in Groups II–VI by submucosal injection of 0.02 mL of 20% acetic acid. Group I is the normal control which received only normal saline (1 mL/kg) orally for 15 days. Group II served as the ulcer control and was sacrificed 24 h after ulcer induction, while Group III received normal saline (1 mL/kg) orally for 14 days as the recovery group. Groups IV–VI received ethanol leaf extract of S. mombin at 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for 14 days. Duodenal tissues were assessed using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining. Results: The normal control group showed relatively intact and well-developed villous architecture with preserved glandular and connective-tissue organization. The ulcer control group demonstrated marked mucosal disruption, characterized by irregular, shortened, blunted and eroded villi, with architectural disorganization. The recovery group showed partial restoration of the duodenal architecture. Treatment with ethanol leaf extract of S. mombin resulted in progressive improvement in villous tissue organization, with the 800 mg/kg group showing the most pronounced morphological restoration and features comparatively closer to the normal control. Masson's trichrome staining demonstrated differences in collagen distribution and organization, consistent with connective-tissue remodeling during mucosal repair. Conclusion: Ethanol leaf extract of Spondias mombin restored the injured duodenal tissue, providing a beneficial effect on the histoarchitecture of acetic-acid-induced duodenal ulcer in Wistar rats.

Keywords: Spondias mombin; Duodenal ulcer; Acetic acid; Wistar rats.