ABSTRACT
Peptic ulcer is an enervating disease, which affects over four million people of all ages globally each year. This disease has prevailed over the years due to cost and safety profile of some orthodox drugs.Therefore, there is an urgent need for herbal approach in the management of peptic ulcer. Annona muricata leaves have been used in ethno-medicine in the management of various ailments including peptic ulcer. The aim of the study was to determine the phytochemical composition, antioxidant and gastro-protective activity of methanol extract of Annona muricata leaf on albino rats and mice.
Leaves of Annona muricata (sample) were collected, rinsed, shade dried and pulverized. One kilogram of the powdered leaves was extracted successively by maceration with methanol after defatting with n-hexane. Phytochemical and antioxidant studies were done using standard methods. The methanol extract of A. muricata (MEAM) at 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doseswere used for gastro-protective study using ethanol and indomethacin induced ulcer models. Acute toxicity evaluations were carried out using standard method. Phyto-compounds were identified in MEAM using GC-MS.
Phytochemical tests showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phlobatanins, cardiac glycosides and coumarins in the extract. GC-MS spectrum indicated the presence of several compounds with Oleic acid being the most prominent (42.75%). In this study, MEAM exhibited higher gastro-protective effect at 100 and 200 mg/kg, both in ethanol and indomethacin induced gastric ulcers compared to omeprazole (20 mg/kg) and the negative control (water). The study suggests that MEAM possesses gastro-protective activity and therefore validates the ethnomedical use of the plant in the management of peptic ulcer disease. The acute toxicological study showed that the extract was relatively safe on albino rats at the tested doses.
