This study was designed to examine possible antiulcerogenic activity of
methanolic extract of Tetracera potatoria (MeTp) and betulinic
acid isolated from it. Results showed that various doses of the extract
(100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight) significantly reduced
experimentally induced gastric ulceration in pretreated animals in a
dose-dependent fashion. Similarly, animals pretreated with 1 (0.2 and
2.0 mg/kg body weight) had significant reduction in mean ulcer indices
recorded (p<0.05). The two doses of betulinic acid also
significantly reduced basal gastric acid secretion in the animals
(p<0.05). Although no significant changes were observed in gastric
acid secretion with the low doses of 0.02 and 0.2 mg/kg body weight of
the extract, there was however significant reduction in gastric acid
secretion with animals treated with 2.0 mg/kg body weight extract(P
< 0..05). These results suggest that decreases in mean ulcer indices
in response to the extract and betulinic acid appear to be dependent on
the inhibition of gastric acid secretion