Anti-ulcerogenic Activities of Ethanol Extract of the Stem of Microdesmis puberula Hook. f. ex. Planch (Pandaceae) in Rats

Abstract

Microdesmis puberula Hook. f. ex. Planch (Pandaceae) is used in ethnomedicine for the management of diarrhoea, peptic ulcer, and other stomach disorders. This study evaluated the anti-ulcerogenic activity of a 70% ethanol extract of the stem of M. puberula in experimental rats. The stem material was cleaned, air-dried, pulverised, macerated in 70% ethanol for 72 h, filtered, and concentrated to dryness. Anti-ulcer activity was assessed using ethanol-, indomethacin-, histamine-, and Reserpine-induced gastric ulcer models, while preliminary phytochemical screening was performed using standard methods. The extract was administered orally at 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg in the ulcer models. The extract contained flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, and cardiac glycosides. Across the experimental models, pretreatment with the extract significantly reduced ulcer scores compared with untreated controls (p < 0.05) and increased the percentage of ulcer protection. In the ethanol model, ulcer protection reached 73% at 1500 mg/kg, whereas values of 94%, 89%, and 80% were recorded in the indomethacin, histamine, and reserpine models, respectively, at the most effective tested extract doses. The findings indicate preliminary gastroprotective activity of the ethanol stem extract of M. puberula. This activity may be associated with the phytochemical constituents detected in the extract; however, the active compounds and precise mechanisms were not established in this study.