AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF Ficus carica L. INHIBITS HISTAMINE INDUCED GASTRIC ACID SECRETION, WHILE PROMOTING INTESTINAL MOTILITY IN SPRAGUE DAWLEY RAT

Abstract

Background: Ficus carica is a plant belonging to the family Moraceae, popularly known as ‘Opoto’ in Southwest Nigeria. It is used in folk medicine as an emollient, demulcent, laxative and galactogogue. However, these claims need to be scientifically evaluated. In this study, the effects of oral administration of the aqueous leaf extract of Ficus carica L. on gastric acid acidity and intestinal motility were studied in laboratory rats. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effect of aqueous leaf extracts of Ficus carica on gastric acid secretion and intestinal motility in the laboratory rats. Method: The research was divided into two phase; gastric acid secretion and gastric motility studies. A total of forty-two male rats used for this study were divided into two groups; group for gastric secretion study (10 rats) and those rats for intestinal motility study (32 rats). The groups were further divided into control and extract treated group and the latter were gavaged with 2.0 mg/kg of the extract daily for three week prior to the assay while the control group received equal volume of distilled for the duration of the study. Animals were fasted overnight before the day of the test. The motility study was carried out using the activated charcoal method while the effect on gastric acid secretion was carried out by gastric effluent titration method at basal rate and after the administration of histamine and histamine receptor blocker respectively. Results: Aqueous Ficus carica L. leaf extracts significantly reduced gastric acidity while reducing the gastrointestinal transit time with increased peristaltic index. Conclusion: Aqueous leaf extract of Ficus carica reduced the acidity of the gastric secretion while increasing the motility. This extract may further be explored for possible development of drugs for treating gastric ulcer and constipation.