Investigation on the Anti-ulcerogenic Effects and Anti-oxidative Properties of Ceiba pentandra Leaves on Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats

Several natural products, mostly of plant origin have been shown to possess promising activities that
could assist in the prevention and/or amelioration of diseases. Gastric ulcer is an ulceration of the
gastrointestinal tract which results from persistent erosions and damage of the stomach wall that
might become perforated and develop into peritonitis and massive haemorrhage.
Aims: The current study was aimed to evaluate the protective effects of methanol extract of Ceiba
pentandra leaves on indomethacin and ethanol induced gastric ulcer and on oxidative stress indices
of alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
Study Design: Extraction and administration of graded doses of the extract
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Enugu
State, Nigeria, between May, 2011 and October, 2011.
Methodology: Extraction of Ceiba pentandra leaves was done using methanol. Twenty adult rats
divided into five groups of four rats each were used for each of the ulcer studies. Gastric ulceration
was induced in the rats by oral administration of indomethacin (50 mg/kg) and 95% ethanol (0.5 ml)
thirty minutes after extract treatment, and the animals sacrificed 8 h later. For the diabetes study,
thirty (30) albino rats divided into six (6) groups of five (5) rats each were used. Diabetes was induced
by i.p injection of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg) in overnight-fasted animals and the animals
treated with varied doses (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) of the extract for two weeks. Serum obtained
from the diabetic rats was used for the determination of lipid profile and liver marker enzymes.
Results: Significant and dose dependent ulcer inhibition (70, 82 and 84%; 19, 53, and 58% for 100,
200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract respectively) was produced in all the extract-treated groups for the
ulcer models used. There were significant decreases (p<0.05) in fasting blood glucose levels, liver
marker enzymes, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and triacylglycerides in the serum of
extract-treated groups compared with that of the diabetes-untreated group.
Conclusion: The findings in this study show that methanol extract of Ceiba pentandra leaves
possesses potent anti-ulcerogenic and anti-oxidative properties and has potential for use as an herbal
remedy for the treatment of gastro-intestinal ulcer and management of diabetes.