THE ANTIULCER EFFECTS OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF THE LEAVES OF ASPILIA AFRICANA (ASTERACEAE) IN RATS

Abstract

Aspilia africana (Asteraceae) is a plant currently used in Cameroon ethnomedicine for the treatment of stomach ailments. The methanol extract of the leaves of A. africana was investigated against gastric ulcerations induced by HCl/ethanol and pylorus-ligation. With both methods, the extract inhibited gastric ulcerations in a dose-related manner. Oral administration of the plant extract at the doses of 0.5 and 1 g/kg reduced gastric lesions induced by HCl/ethanol by 79 % and 97 % respectively. The extract at the dose of 1 g/kg reduced gastric lesion in the pylorus ligated rats by 52 % although the gastric acidity remained higher as compared to the control. These findings show that methanol extract of the leaves of A. africana possess potent antiulcer properties.