Antiulcer and in vitro antioxidant activities of Brachystegia eurycoma

The study aimed at evaluating the antiulcer activities in rats and determines its antioxidant capacity in vitro. The antiulcer property was evaluated using absolute ethanol, indomethacin and pylorus ligation as necrotizing agents. Acute toxicity was also carried out. The extract was screened for its in vitro antioxidant capacity using various methods. Polyphenolic contents were also quantified.

B. eurycoma extract blocks ethanol induced gastric lesions, causing 44.30%, 79.96% and 52.74% protection at 50, 100 and 200mg/kg respectively. Significant (p<0.05) antiulcerogenic activity was observed with 100mg/kg dose of the extract and cimetidine (70.46%) when compared to negative control group. In indomethacin model, the extract decreased ulcer index in a dose dependent manner; the highest dose (200mg/kg) and cimetidine (100mg/kg) produced statistically significant protection index. The extract though produces a significant protective effect and lowered gastric secretion volume at 50 and 100mg/kg, failed to significantly decrease the acid output compared to control group. The extract did not produce any toxicity up to a dose of 8000mg/kg. Various degree of the antioxidant activity was recorded for B. eurycoma. The extract possesses considerable amount of total phenols (62.83±0.02mg GAE/g of extract), flavonoids (6.58±0.001mg QE/g of extract) and proanthocyanidins (12.58±0.006mg catechin E/g of extract). The results indicate that the ethanol extract of B. eurycoma has a protective effect in gastric ulcers, which can be attributed to its antioxidant potential.