Anti-ulcerogenic Activity of Dialiumguineense Fruit Pulp Meal-based Diet in Aspirin-induced Ulcerogenic Rats.

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the anti-ulcerogenic effects of the meal- based diet of the fruit pulp of Dialium guineense (Family: Fabaceae) at 5% - 100% inclusion levels in aspirin-induced ulcerogenic rats. Eighty eight albino rats of both sexes weighing 167.09 ± 6.78g were assigned into two groups: A (8 rats) and B (80 rats). Animals in Group B were made ulcerogenic by administration of aspirin (200mg/kg bodyweight {bwt}) for 3 consecutive days and confirmed by determining the levels of nitric oxide and pepsinogen concentration in the serum. These animals were later re-assigned into thirteen groups as non-treated, Omeprazole (0.045 mg/kg bwt) treated and Dialium guineense fruit-pulp meal-based diet treated (5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% inclusion levels) and they were maintained on their respective diet and drug for five weeks. The acid secretory parameters (Ulcer index, gastric pH, gastric volume and total acidity) as well as the glycoprotein concentration (hexose, fucose, hexosamine, sialic acid, total carbohydrate: protein) were determined using standard methods. The study revealed that aspirin significantly (p < 0.05) increased the concentration of pepsinogen, gastric volume and acidity, ulcer index whereas it decreased the gastric pH, concentrations of nitric oxide, hexose, fucose, hexosamine, sialic acid as well as the total carbohydrate: protein ratio significantly (p < 0.05). In contrast, the fruit pulp meal-based diet at 5% - 40% inclusion levels significantly reversed (p > 0.05) the levels of these parameters with the 30% and 40% inclusion levels comparing favourably (p < 0.05) with ulcerogenic rats treated with Omeprazole. Overall, the results suggest that the meal-based diet of Dialium guineense possesses anti-ulcer activity optimally at 30% and 40% inclusion levels and therefore support its usage in folklore medicine.