GASTROPROTECTIVE EFFECT

Chasmanthera dependens stem is used in African traditional medicine as a remedy for various maladies and also as a as a remedy for leprosy and lupus; however, scientific evidence tovalidateits uses in gastric ulcer healing is lacking. This study investigated the 'Gastroprotective effect of methanol extract of Chasmanthera dependens on aspirin induced ulcerated rats. Atotal numberof twenty-five (25) albino Wistar rats weighing between (120g-200g) were usedinthegastroprotective screening. The rats were randomly divided into three (3) control groups (n=15)and two (2) test groups (n=10) which are classified as follows; Normal control (n=5):
Administered only clean water and commercial feed, Negative control (n=5): Aspirin (300mg/kg)body weight. Positive control (n=5): Misoprostol (20mg/kg) body weight for seven (7) days+Aspirin (300mg/kg) body weight, Gastroprotective (n=5): Chasmanthera dependens extract (250mg/kg) body weight for seven (7days) + Aspirin (300mg/kg) body weight, Gastroprotective(n=5): Chasmanthera dependens extract (500mg/kg) body weight + Aspirin (300mg/kg) bodyweight. The animals were fasted for a period of 24hours, 300mg/kg body weight dose of aspirinwas used to induce ulcer. After four (4) hours, under light anaesthesia by chloroform, the animal swere sacrificed, stomach removed, washed, opened on greater curvature and examined for ulceration. Gastric injuries, ulcer index, pH and acid output were evaluated. The results obtained revealed gastric mucosa damage as evident by marked morphological changes, increasedulcerscore, ulcer index and acid output at p< 0.05. Results of this study showed that methanol can effectively extract the active constituents responsible for anti-ulcerogenic properties. This result has therefore justified the use of extracts of roots of Chasmanthera dependens in the traditional treatment of gastric ulcers in Nigeria.