Ifeanyi Peter Onyeka, Charity C Ezea, Chukwuebuka C Onwuzuligbo, Cyril Onyeka Ogbue and Ugonna Chinwe Morikwe

Background: Synedrella nodiflora is a useful plant in Nigeria, used traditionally for therapeutic treatment of various diseases. Ulcer occurs due to imbalance between the protective and aggressive factors of the stomach caused by inflammation and oxidation as a result of the activities of ulcerogenic factors.

Methods: This study investigated the leaf toxicity profile, phytochemical, and the anti-ulcer effects of a crude leaf extract of Synedrella nodiflora combined with honey in rats using the standard laboratory procedures. Anti-ulcer studies were carried out using absolute ethanol and pyloric ligation rat models of ulceration.

Result: The extractive value for Synedrella nodiflora was higher with methanol (15.3%) followed by water (13.6%), ethanol (3%), and n-hexane (2.6%). The fiber content and ash value were 5.0 and 6.7 respectively, which implied that the plant material used is of good purity. The acute toxicity showed that the extract caused no death in the mice at 5000 mg/kg, therefore, the LD₅₀ is above 5000 mg/kg. No toxicity has been reported of honey in previous studies. The result showed high content of manganese, zinc, calcium and phosphorus in both honey and Synedrella nodiflora. These elements play significant roles as antioxidants, they therefore enhanced the activity of the phytomedicine as antioxidant and antiulcer therapy. The result also showed that 100 mg/kg of the crude extract and 1 ml honey had 42.9% and 71.76% inhibition of ulceration, respectively while the same dosage in combination with honey had 74.65% inhibition of ulceration which was significantly higher than the negative control.

Conclusion: The combination of methanol leaf extract of Synedrella nodiflora and honey exhibited gastro-protective effect and reduced gastric acid in rats and this may be a proven dimension in treatment of ulceration. This result has proven that honey in combination with crude drugs of Synedrella nodiflora is a new dimension in treatment of ulceration and therefore recommends its usage for treatment of ulcer.

Pages: 159-168  |  589 Views  220 Downloads