Antioxidant and Anti-ulcerogenic Effect of Chloroform and Methanol Partitioned Leave Extracts of Harungana madagascariensis on Wistar Albino Rats: A Comparative Analysis

Background: This research investigated the antioxidant and anti-ulcerogenic potentials of chloroform and methanolic leave extracts of Harungana Madagascariensis leave. Antioxidants are substance that prevents or slows down the damage caused by free radicals. An ulcer is an open sore that occurs when surface cells die and are shed, creaking a break in the lining of an organ.

Methods: The In-vitro antioxidant activity was tested using the following models; 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric reducing power (FRAP) and Total antioxidant capacity (TAC).

Results: The H. Madagascariensis extracts exhibited a moderate in vitro antioxidant activity when compared with ascorbic acid. The extracts showed inhibitory potential against DPPH free radical, the inhibitory percentages are 47.5, 50.1, 54.5, 56.7, 61.9, 66.8 and 72.5µg/ml for the chloroform extract while for the methanol extract was 61.6, 70.1, 73.3, 82.6, 88.2, 91.2 and 93 µg/ml. The extracts (chloroform and methanol) also significantly (P <0.05) reduced free radical activities for Ferric reducing power and Total antioxidant capacity across all concentrations. In-vivo antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPx) were evaluated for its ability to prevent indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Pre-treatment with extracts at oral doses 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight significantly (P <0.05) increased the activity of SOD, CAT and GPx after ulcer induction. A significant (P <0.05) decrease was observed in MDA after treatment. The extracts were found to provide a dose-dependent protection against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer by averting the deep necrotic lesions of the gastric epithelium, by preserving normal antioxidant enzymes activities and by inhibiting the lipid peroxidation in gastric mucosa. The anti-ulcerogenic activity of H. Madagascaariensis might be due to its antioxidant effects. The methanol extract exhibited better anti-ulcerogenic effect against indomethacin induced gastric ulcer than that obtained for the chloroform extract.