Gastro-protective effect of methanol extract of Ficus asperifolia bark on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats

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.