HEALING EFFECT OF THREE EXTRACTS FROM THE TRUNK BARK OF TERMINALIA SUPERBA ENGL. ET DIELS (COMBRETACEAE) ON ACETIC ACID INDUCED ULCER IN RATS

Goze Nomane Bernard*, Oussou N’Guessan Jean-Baptiste, Gnangoran Boua Narcisse and Yapo Angoué Paul

ABSTRACT

Terminalia superba is a medicinal plant well known for its richness in phytochemicals compounds and its beneficial effects for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. This study investigated the healing effect of aqueous (AETs), hydro ethanol 70 % (HE 70 %) extracts and n-butanol fraction (BuF) from the trunk bark of T. superba on acetic acid induced ulcer in rats. Fasted rats were divided into thirteen groups (9 rats/group). Groups 1 (control 1) received orally distilled water at 1 ml/100 g b.w. while group 2 (Control 2) to 13 were given only acetic acid solution 20 % every day for three days at 1 ml/150 g b.w by oral route. After, groups 3 and 4 received cimetidine (12 mg/kg) and omeprazole (10 mg/kg) at 1 ml/100g respectively while groups 5 to 13 received AETs, HE 70 % (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) and BuF (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) respectively for 28 days. Sub-groups of three rats by groups were sacrificed weekely and ulcerous surface, mucus, ulceration index and inhibition percentage were examined. The results showed that AETs, HE 70 % and BuF significantly and dose dependently reduced surface aera, ulcer index and significantly increased the inhibition percentage and mucous in treated groups at 500 mg/kg (AETs and EH 70 %) and 60 mg/kg (BuF) compared to control 2 on the 28th. The three extracts induced gastric mucosal membrane re-epithelization. In conclusion, AETs, HE 70 % and BuF possessed healing effect against acetic acid induced ulcer in rats and could mainly be ascribable to their cytoprotective activity supplied with their anti-secretion effect.

Keywords: Terminalia superba, healing effect, acid acetic, ulcer, rats.