Journal of Biochemistry International

Gastric ulcer, which is a type of peptic ulcer, is considered one of the major ailments affecting about 60% of adults and nearly 80% of the child population in tropical countries. Several plants have been traditionally used in the treatment of ulcers; however, this study utilized Carica papaya and Chromolaena odorata. This present study aims to evaluate the synergistic antiulcerogenic potentials of different fractions of these plants. The different fractions of the combination of Carica papaya and Chromolaena odorata were prepared using whatever method. The synergistic antiulcerogenic potential of the combination of plants was determined using sixty-five (65) rats weighing between 180g and 200g, which were randomized into thirteen (13) groups, with each group containing five (5) rats. Group 1 (normal control) was given normal rat chow and water with no treatment. Group 2 (negative control) was ulcer-induced without pretreatment. Group 3 (standard control) was ulcer induced and pretreated with 25mg/kg omeprazole. Group 4 was ulcer-induced and pre-treated with 100 mg/kg n-hexane fraction of C. papaya and C. odorata. Group 5 rats were induced with ulcers and given a pre-treatment of 200 mg/kg n-hexane fraction from C. papaya and C. odorata. Rats in group 6 were induced with ulcers and pretreated with 100 mg/kg of the chloroform fraction from C. papaya and C. odorata. Group 7 were induced with ulcers and pretreated with 200 mg/kg chloroform extracts of C. papaya and C. odorata. Group 8 were induced with ulcers and pretreated with 100 mg/kg of the ethyl-acetate fraction from C. papaya and C. odorata. Rats in group 9 were induced with ulcers and pretreated with 200 mg/kg of the ethyl-acetate fraction of C. papaya and C. odorata. Rats in group 10 were induced with ulcers and received a pretreatment of 100 mg/kg of butanol fraction from C. papaya and C. odorata. Group 11 were induced with ulcers and pre-treated using 200 mg/kg of butanol fraction from C. papaya and C. odorata. Group 12 were induced with ulcers and received a pretreatment of 100 mg/kg of ethanol extract from C. papaya and C. odorata. Group 13 rats were induced with ulcers and pretreated with 200 mg/kg of the ethanol fraction from C. papaya and C. odorata. The animals underwent a 24-hour fasting period prior to receiving the extract. Thirty (30) minutes after extract administration, 1ml of absolute ethanol was given to each animal. Two hours after the induction of ulcer with ethanol, the animals were sacrificed, and the stomach dissected to check the level of ulceration. The rats pretreated with different doses of each fraction of C. papaya and C. odorata leaves and Omeprazole significantly (p <0.05) reduced the gastric lesions as compared to the normal negative control with an exception to the group pretreated with 200 mg/kg of n-hexane fraction. The ethyl-acetate fraction (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) produced the most potent inhibition of gastric lesions when compared to Omeprazole (20 mg/kg). These findings show that the different fractions of the combination of C. papaya and C. odorata leaves possess a synergistic antiulcerogenic potential; hence, justifies its traditional usage in the treatment of gastric ulcer.