Antiulcerogenic Potentials of Fermented Aqueous Extract of <i>Pentaclethra macrophylla</i> (Benth) Seeds

Abstract

Pentaclethra macrophylla popularly known as African oil bean is a member of the Leguminosae family.A decoction of fermented extract of the plant has been known to be effective in the management of malnutrition, gastrointestinal disorders and dental caries. This study evaluated the antiulcerogenic potentials of aqueous extract of fermented P. macrophylla seeds using acetic acid, aspirin, ethanol, indomethacin and pyloric ligation of ethanol induced ulcer models at the doses of 400 and 800mg/kg body weight. Omeprazole at 5mg/kg was used as a standard reference drug. The result of the acute toxicity test showed that up to 5,000mg/kg body weight of the extract did not cause any mortality of the animals. The different doses of the extract and the reference drug decreased significantly (p<0.05) the ulcer parameters in a dose-dependent manner in all the ulcer models. The degree of ulcer index for the negative control groups is in the order: Indomethacin (11.10±0.10) < Pyloric-ligation (11.57±0.06) < Aspirin (11.60±0.10) <Acetic acid (15.85±0.13) < Ethanol (16.30±0.18). Similarly, the percentage gastro-protective activity increased from 0% in the negative control up to 29.85% at the dose of 800mg/kg body weight of the extract. The degree of percentage gastro-protection is in the order: Acetic acid (0.21%) <Indomethacin (3.89%) < Aspirin (5.17%) < Pyloric-ligation (8.64%) < Ethanol (29.85%). The enhanced cessation of gastric erosions could be attributed to the synergistic role of biochemicals and microbiomes residents in fermented aqueous extract of P. macrophylla seeds. However, the decoction of the plant could be employed in ethnomedicine for the treatment of peptic ulcer.