Effect of Sterculia septigera (Karaya Gum) on Aspirin-Induced Gastric Erosion in Adult Wistar Rats

The possible anti- ulcer effect of Sterculia Septigera on aspirin-induced gastric erosion in wistar rats has been investigated. Twenty five (25) wistar rats weighing between 150 and 200g were used and they were divided into five groups of five animals each. Group A served as control while groups B-E served as treatment group. Group B was administered aspirin only, group C was administered aspirin and ranitidine (ulcer drug) while groups D and E were administered orally with aqueous leaf extract of Sterculia septigera at different doses of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg body weight respectively for 14 days. The body weights were recorded before and after extract administration. The animals were sacrificed on the 15th day and histological sections of the stomach were analyzed. Observations in this study showed that administration of the aqueous extract of the leaves did not significantly reduce the body weights of the animals and it produced a remarkable ameliorative effect on the gastric erosion induced by aspirin with the lower doses (200mg/kg body weight) having a slightly higher potency than the higher dose (400mg/kg body weight). This could have been due to the direct or indirect excitatory effect on the production of prostaglandins on the mucus glands of the stomach. Prostaglandins have been suggested to enhance the production of mucous cells for protection of the gastrointestinal lining against erosion by acid secretion. Thus the extract produced better ameliorative effect than the standard drug (Ranitidine) in the Wistar rats. Therefore the use of this plant in place of ulcer drugs should be encouraged.

Key Words: Gastric erosion, Sterculia septigera, Aspirin, Ranitidine