GASTRO-PROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF THE LEAVES AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF DIOSPYROS MESPILIFORMIS ON GASTRIC ULCERS IN SWISS MICE

Information from ethnomedicine suggests that Diospyros mespiliformis possesses antiulcer properties. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate its gastroprotective activity. The gastroprotective activity of the leaves aqueous extract of D. mespiliformis was evaluated by three experimental models of gastric ulcers in mice, namely: HCl/ethanol, HCl/ethanol with indomethacin pre-treatment and indomethacin (p. o). Ulcerated surface, ulcer index, and mucus mass were recorded. A qualitative phytochemical analysis of the extract was carried out. The administration of D. mespiliformis extract prevented the formation of gastric lesions against the necrotizing agents. For HCl/ethanol induction, the extract at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg dose-dependently inhibited ulcer formation of 28.36, 29.19 and 35.82%, respectively. Indomethacin pre-treatment reduced the preventive effect of the extract to 19.69 and 28.24% at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively. As for indomethacin induction, the extract at 200 mg/kg showed the most important ulcer inhibition (88.13%). For all three induction models, a significant increase in mucus secretion between 44.75 and 121.34% was observed. D. mespiliformis could prevent the formation of gastric ulcers by stimulating mucus secretion via its direct action on mucus-secreting cells due to the presence of flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins, and saponins in the extract.