Antioxidant Capacity, Cytoprotection, and Healing Actions of the Leaf Aqueous Extract ofOcimum suavein Rats Subjected to Chronic and Cold-Restraint Stress Ulcers

Abstract

We evaluated the qualitative chemical composition and tested the antiulcer actions on cold/restraint stress ulcers, the healing effect on chronic acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers, and thein vivoandin vitroantioxidant capacity ofOcimum suaveextract. Triterpenes, flavonoids, sugars, phenols, sterols, and multiple bonds were among the phytochemicals detected. The extract (250–500 mg/kg) dose-dependently inhibited the formation of gastric ulcers induced by cold/restraint stress (52.30%–83.10%). The prophylactic actions were associated with significant increases in gastric mucus production. There was significant histological healing of chronic ulcers following 14-day treatment withO. suaveextract (250–500 mg/kg). We also evaluated the efficacy ofO. suaveextract in cold/restraint-induced oxidative stress in rat stomach tissue.O. suave(500 mg/kg) ameliorated the decreased levels of reduced glutathione from 0.85 (control group) to 2.08 nmol/g tissue. The levels of SOD and catalase were also improved in rats treated withO. suaveextract. The extract had a high phenol content (899.87 mg phenol/g catechin equivalent),in vitroDPPH radical scavenging activity (89.29%), and FRAP (antioxidant capacity) (212.64 mg/g catechin equivalent). The cytoprotective and ulcer healing effects of the extract are attributed to enhanced mucus production and the antioxidant properties which may likely be associated with the high presence of flavonoids and polyphenols.

Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activity of Ocimum suave Against Selected Human Pathogenic Bacteria

“…The phytochemical screening of O. suave leaves and stem revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, phenols, tannins and steroids for leaves and only saponins in stem and those results are in agreement with previous reports done by Tan et al,22 . These classes of compounds are known to show curative activity against several pathogens and therefore could explain its wide usage traditionally for the treatment of wide array of illnesses 23 .…”

Healing and Antisecretory Effects of Aqueous Extract ofEremomastax speciosa(Acanthaceae) on Unhealed Gastric Ulcers

“…The pathogenesis of “unhealed gastric ulcers” also involves the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [ 42 ] due to the combined actions of laparotomy [ 43 ], acetic acid injection, and indomethacin administration [ 44 ]. Taken together, these mechanisms cause ROS hyperproduction whose involvement in the physiopathology of gastrointestinal inflammation and gastric ulcer is well known [ 45 ].…”

Preventive Effects of Tocotrienol on Stress-Induced Gastric Mucosal Lesions and Its Relation to Oxidative and Inflammatory Biomarkers

“…The gastric endogenous antioxidant system works in tandem to fight oxidative damage [ 12 ]. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme, is the first line of defence, that catalyses the dismutation of superoxide anions into less noxious hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), which is further inactivated by glutathione peroxidase [ 13 ]. Hence, a compound with pure antioxidant properties may be potentially useful in minimising gastric mucosal damage caused by free radicals.…”