The gastro-protective and antioxidant effects of methanol extract of
Ficus asperifolia bark on indomethacin induced gastric ulcer were
investigated in male rats. Thirty two male rats divided into 4 equal
groups and were treated as follows: group1 (control), 0.5ml of 5% tween
80 (vehicle for the extract), groups 2 and 3, 100 and 500mg/kg of Ficus
asperifolia extract respectively and group 4, cimetidine (100mg/kg).
After two weeks of daily oral administration of vehicle, extract or
cimetidine, gastric ulcer was induced in all rats with indomethacin (40
mg/kg, p.o). Gastric juice pH, gastric acid concentration, gastric
ulcer score, percentage gastric ulcer inhibition, activity levels of
superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and malondiadehyde (MDA) were
determined. Ficus asperifolia extract significantly increased gastric
pH (p<0.05) but decreased (p<0.01) gastric acid secretion in dose
dependent manner when compared with the control. Inhibition of gastric
ulcer in extract and cimetidine treated rats was similar. Activities of
SOD and catalase were significantly increased (p<0.05) while MDA was
significantly decreased (p< 0.05) in extract treated rats when
compared with the control. The results suggest that Ficus asperifolia
possesses gastro-protective and antioxidant properties against gastric
ulcer induced by indomethacin