Gastroprotective Effects of Melastoma malabathricum Aqueous Leaf Extract against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcer Iin Rats

Abstract

Abstract:The gastro-protective effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Melastoma malabathricum was investigated against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injuries in rats. There were four groups of adult sprague dawley rats, consisting of six rats per group. Macroscopically, oral administration of absolute ethanol to rats that had been pre-treated with only distilled water significantly produced extensive lesions of the gastric mucosa. Oral pre-treatment with either 250 mg kg −1 of M. malabathricum extract, 500 mg kg −1 of M. malabathricum extract, or 20 mg kg −1 of omeprazole 60 minutes before administration of absolute ethanol significantly reduced the formation of gastric mucosal injuries. The observed protection was significant and dose dependent in inhibiting ethanol-induced gastric ulcers. Microscopically, rats that had been pre-treated with only distilled water showed marked damage of the gastric mucosa, induced submucosal edema and leucocytes infiltration. However, animals that had been pre-treated with aqueous leaf extracts or omeprazole showed marked reduction of gastric mucosal damage, reduction of oedema and less leucocyte infiltration of submucosal layer. The results indicated that 500 mg kg -1 aqueous leaf extract of M. malabathricum provided the best protection to the gastric mucosa in rats against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers.

Antinociception of petroleum ether fraction derived from crude methanol extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves and its possible mechanisms of action in animal models

“…The acetic-acid-induced abdominal constriction test was performed according to the method described by Zakaria et al [26] with slight modification. Male ICR mice were placed in the 10 L glass beaker as observation chamber for 20 min prior to the experiment to adapt to their surroundings.…”

“…The hot-plate test was used to measure response latency according to the method described by Zakaria et al [26] with some modifications. The temperature of the metal surface (Hotplate Analgesia Meter, Columbus Instruments, Model: 144-E52) was set at 50  ±  0 .…”

“…The formalin test was performed as described by Zakaria et al [26] but with slight modifications. Pain was induced by injecting 50 μL of 5% formalin in the intraplantarly (i.pl.)…”

“…Locally known to the Malay as “ Senduduk ”, M. malabathricum has been used in the Malay traditional medicines to treat ailments such as stomach ulcers, dysentery and diarrhoea, those associated with pain (i.e., toothache and stomachache), to accelerate wound healing, for post-natal care and prevention of scars from small pox infection, and postpartum remedy [15–19]. Scientifically, the leaves of M. malabathricum have been reported to exert no acute toxicity [20] and, antibacterial [20, 21], antiviral [20], antioxidant [22], cytotoxic [22], anti-inflammatory [23, 24], anticoagulant [25], antiulcer [26], antidiarrheal [20], antinociceptive [16, 24] and antipyretic [24] activities.…”

Potentials of <i>Melastoma malabathricum</i> Linn. Flower and Fruit Extracts as Antimicrobial Infusions

“…Numerous pharmacological studies and clinical practices have reported that various parts of M. malabathricum Linn. plant possess biological functions such as antioxidant and anti-cancer [3], antiviral [6], anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and anti-pyretic [7], and antiulcerogenic [8].…”