Anti-ulcerogenic activity of stem extract and fractions of Homalium letestui

Background & Aim: Homalium letestui Pellegr (Flacourtiaceae) used traditionally by the Ibibios of Southern Nigeria to treat stomach ulcer, malaria and other inflammatory diseases was evaluated for antiulcer properties. Experimental: The effects of ethanol stem extract of H. letestui (200 – 600 mg/kg) and fractions (Aqueous and Dichloromethane, 400 mg/kg) on experimentally induced ulcer were studied in rats using ethanol, indomethacin, reserpine and histamine –induced ulcer models. Results & Discussion: The extract (200 – 600 mg/kg) inhibited ethanol, indomethacin, reserpine and histamine –induced ulcer models in a dose dependent fashion. The various degrees of inhibitions were statistically significant (p<0.05, 0.01, 0.001). The effects of the extract/fraction were comparable to that of the standard drugs used in indomethacin and ethanol-induced ulcer models with the dichloromethane fraction having the highest activity. Industrial and practical recommendations: The present study demonstrates that stem extract of Homalium letestui might to be useful for the treatment of ulcer.