Evaluation of the Anti Ulcer Effect of Extract of Chromolaena odorata Leaves on Ethanol and Indomethacin Induced Ulcer Models
Hannah Ndidiamaka Okorie
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria.
Peace Chiagozie Okorie
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu 400001, Nigeria.
Linda Nkechinyere Umegbo
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria.
Nnenna Ajagu
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria.
Arinze Ndibe
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria.
Kennedy E. Oluigbo
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria.
Goodnews Onyedikachi Ikeh
*
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Public health is greatly impacted by peptic ulcer disease, a chronic illness marked by sores in the lower oesophagus, duodenum, or stomach. In ethnomedicine, Chromolaena odorata has long been used to treat ulcers. The study evaluated the anti-ulcer properties of the methanol extract and fractions of C. odorata leaves. The methanol extract and its n-hexane, ethyl-acetate, and n-butanol fractions were subjected to anti-ulcer screening using the in vivo ulcer models in ethanol and indomethacin-induced experimental rats. Important parameters, such as the pH, total acidity, free acidity, and ulcer index, were measured from the rats treated with extract and fractions (200 and 400 mg/kg doses) and standard omeprazole. The extract (4.67 %w/w yield) and its fractions contained different amounts of flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, phenol, tannins, alkaloids, and cardiac glycosides. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s t-test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. The ethyl acetate (400 mg/kg) exhibited a 56.7% gastroprotective effect with an ulcer index of 1.30 ± 0.20, while the crude (400 mg/kg) showed an inhibition rate of 50.0% with an ulcer index of 1.50 ± 0.25, lower than omeprazole (63.3%) in the ethanol-induced model. In the indomethacin-induced ulcer model, the 400 mg/kg extract (400 mg/kg) and ethyl acetate fraction (400 mg/kg) elicited 77.6% and 63.5% ulcer inhibition compared with the omeprazole standard (83.11%). All the fractions significantly decreased stomach acidity by elevating pH. Significant anti-ulcer efficacy is demonstrated by C. odorata, with the most effective portion being ethyl acetate, which could provide anti-ulcer lead compounds. The gastroprotective properties are probably aided by the presence of bioactive substances, including flavonoids and tannins.
Keywords: Peptic ulcer disease, Chromolaena odorata, ethanol, Indomethacin, omeprazole