This study investigated the quantitative polyphenolic constituents and gastroprotective effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Spondias mombin and Ficus exasperata against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Ulceration was induced by a single oral administration of indomethacin (30 mg/kg body weight). Wistar rats were pretreated with esomeprazole (reference drug) at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, S. mombin or F. exasperata at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight once daily for 21 days prior to ulcer induction. At the end of the experiment, gastric secretions and antioxidant parameters were evaluated. We observed that the significantly increased (p < 0.05) ulcer index, gastric volume, malondialdehyde level and pepsin activity were effectively reduced following treatment with S. mombin and F. exasperata. The extracts also markedly attenuated the reduced activity of superoxide dismutase as well as pH and mucin content in the ulcerated rats. These findings are indicative of gastroprotective and antioxidative potentials of the extracts which is also evident in the degree of % inhibition against ulceration. The available data in this study suggest that the extracts of S. mombin and F. exasperata proved to be capable of ameliorating indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration and the probable mechanisms are via antioxidative and proton pump inhibition.

No abstract

No abstract

Context: Spondias mombin Linn (Anacardiaceae) and Ficus exasperata Valh (Moraceae) are botanicals with known phytotherapeutic potentials in the traditional system of medicine in the world. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the quantitative polyphenolic constituents and gastroprotective effects of aqueous leaf extracts of Spondias mombin and Ficus exasperata against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Materials and methods: Ulceration was induced by a single oral administration of indomethacin (30 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)). Ulcerated rats were orally administered with esomeprazole (a reference drug) at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight, and Spondias mombin and Ficus exasperata at a dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. once daily for 21 d after ulcer induction. Gastric secretions and antioxidant parameters were thereafter evaluated. Results: The significantly increased (p50.05) ulcer index, gastric volume, malondialdehyde level, and pepsin activity by indomethacin were effectively reduced by 65.40, 36.47, 45.71, and 53.79%, respectively, following treatment with F. exasperata at 200 mg/kg b.w. S. mombin at this regimen also attenuated these parameters by 71.70, 46.62, 50.16, and 55.73%. Moreover, the extracts significantly increase the reduced activity of superoxide dismutase as well as pH and mucin content in the ulcerated rats. Discussion and conclusion: These findings are indicative of gastroprotective and antioxidative potentials of the extracts which is also evident in the degree of % inhibition against ulceration. The available data in this study suggest that the extracts proved to be capable of ameliorating indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration and the probable mechanisms are via antioxidative and proton pump inhibition.

Ganoderma lucidum is a mushroom commonly used in folk medicine especially Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) but information on its nutritional and chemical profiles remains insufficient. This work aimed at evaluating proximate composition and identification of bioactive compounds in ethanolic extract of G. lucidum. Pulverized G. lucidum was suspended in ethanol in 1:10 and extraction was carried out by rotary evaporation to produce G. lucidum extract (GLE). Proximate composition of the sample was analyzed. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was carried out to identify different functional groups in GLE. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine the bioactive compounds of the sample. Proximate analysis revealed that the amount of carbohydrate in sample was the highest (44.95%), followed by protein (15.75%). FTIR results showed that OH, C=O, C-OH, N-H 1* and 2* and alkyl halide are functional groups in GLE. A total of twelve (12) bioactive compounds were identified and the most prevailing compound in GLE was ethyl octadeca-9,12-dienoate (45.95%), followed by ethylhexadecanoate / ethyl palmitate (18.09%). Guaiacol (4.95%), octadecanoic acid (5.37%), ethylcyclohexane (3.31%) were also present. It can be inferred from this study that G. lucidum is nutritional and contains bioactive compounds that are useful in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.