Gastroprotective effects of loranthus micranthus and acalypha wilkesiana leaves extracts on experimentally induced ulcer models in rats

The anti-ulcer activities of Loranthus miranthus leaf extract (LOME) and Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extract (AWLE) were investigated in rats in which ulcer was induced with indomethacin (40mg/kg). Results obtained indicate significant (p<0.05) reduction in ulcers indices in all animals treated with the extracts. LOME at 200 and 400mg/kg lowered ulcer index from 9.17±0.32 in the control group to 0.74±0.55 and 0.52±0.35, with % protections of 91.93% and 94.32% respectively, while same doses of AWLE yielded ulcer indices of 0.95±0.0.64 and 0.88±0.45, with percentage protections of 89.64 and 90.40 respectively. The observed effects of LOME and AWLE compared favourably with that of Cimetidine (32mg/kg), which lowered ulcer index to 6.06±0.09 and presented a percentage protection of 33.91%. LOME also inhibited charcoal transit in experimental rats in a manner similar to that of atropine (1mg/kg), while AWLE did not significantly affect charcoal transit when compared to the control. The results suggest that both LOME and AWLE may contain active agents with anti- ulcer and cytoprotective activities. The observed anticholinergic function of LOME also suggest that the extract may have achieved its effect by inhibiting parasympathetic induced gastric secretions in addition to local mucosa protective effect exhibited by both extracts. Loranthus micranthus and Acalypha wilkesiana leaves could be harnessed into safe and potent treatment agents for ulcer and could serve as templates for the development of new anti-ulcer drugs.