DIM JENNIFER NJIDEKA

Alcohol (ethanol) is a widely consumed psychoactive substance known to induce oxidative stress and gastrointestinal mucosal damage, particularly in the duodenum. Chronic alcohol exposure generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupts mucosal integrity. Melatonin, a neurohormone synthesized in the pineal gland and gastrointestinal tract, exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and may offer protection against alcohol-induced tissue injury. To Investigate the Effects of Melatonin on Alcohol induced duodenal Toxicity in Adult Wistar Rats. Twenty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=5): control, alcohol only (50% ethanol), melatonin only (5 mg/kg), and melatonin plus alcohol. All treatments were administered orally via gavage for 28 days. After the exposure period, blood samples were collected to assess oxidative stress markers, and duodenal tissues were harvested for histopathological analysis. Statistical analysis were performed using one-way ANOVA with significance set at p<0.05. Alcohol induced ulcer in the mucosa of the duodenum and the ulcer induced was a funnel shaped. The group given melatonin and alcohol showed protective effect, preventing alcohol induced ulceration. In conclusion, melatonin at 5mg/kg prevented against alcohol-induced duodenal ulceration in wistar rats.