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Although the gastroprotective potential of folic acid has been reported, little is known about the role of inflammation and apoptosis in the said activity. This study, therefore, assessed lipid peroxidation (LPO), Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP) as markers of inflammation and, p53 and BCl-2 as markers of apoptosis in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer pretreated with Folic acid (FA) for twenty-one (21) days. Adult male Wistar rats were arranged into experimental groups (n = 5) viz: 1) Control; 2) Ulcer control; 3) 2FA (2 mg/kg folic acid + Ulcer); 4) 3FA (3 mg/kg folic acid + Ulcer); 5) OMEP (20 mg/kg omeprazole + Ulcer); 6) 2FA + OMEP + Ulcer; and 7) 3FA + OMEP + Ulcer. Ulcer score, LPO, NLR, serum CRP were all determined one hour post ulcer induction. Paraffin gastric sections were stained first with H & E, then immunostained for p53 and BCl-2. Ethanol caused gastric lesion with an index of 3.0 ± 0.2. Ulcer severity and LPO was significantly decreased in the 2FA, 3FA, OMEP, 2FA + OMEP and 3FA + OMEP groups. NLR reduced significantly in the 2FA, 3FA, OMEP and OMEP + 3FA group. Qualitatively, there was absence of C-reactive protein in the 2FA group while quantitatively, presence of CRP appeared sustained in the 3FA and OMEP treated groups. Unlike p53, the expression and labeling index of BCl-2 were significantly enhanced more in the FA and OMEP combination than OMEP alone. Folic acid ameliorates the development of gastric ulcer in rats via its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.

Ageratum conyzoides Linn is a medicinal plant used for diverse ethnomedicinal applications including anti-ulcer treatment. Usually, protection of gastric mucosa from injury or ulceration is dependent on the efficacy of intrinsic or induced protective factors against erosive effects of aggressive factors. In this study, our aim was to ascertain the gastroprotective activity of methanolic leaf extracts of A. conyzoides L. and assess the associated roles of gastric mucous cells and p53 protein. This study involved 25 adult male Wistar rats divided into five groups (A-E). Groups A and E were used as normal and test controls while B-D were administered with extracts at 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg body weight for 28 days. Gastric mucosal injury was induced via pyloric ligation method. Gastric tissues were processed, stained with periodic acid-Schiff and immunostained for p53 protein (using monoclonal antibody). Stained sections were quantified using image-J software, data obtained were statistically analyzed. The results showed significant increase (p<0.05) in mucous cell population but no significant increase in p53 protein expression in gastric tissues of treated animals. This implied that increase in mucous cell count and down-regulation of p53 protein in gastric tissues play key role in gastroprotective activity of methanolic extracts of A. conyzoides L.

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