Abstract

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CONCENTRATION OF TOTAL PROTEINS AND SPECIFIC ACTIVITY OF CATALASE IN INDOMETHACIN-ULCERATED RATS PRE-TREATED WITH ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT

Christian E. Odo*

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Abstract

Increased needs for proteins and anti-oxidants are required to promote wound healing and hence, this research was originated to investigate the relationship between the concentration of total proteins and specific activity of catalase in indomethacin-ulcerated rats pre-treated with A. occidentale methanol leaf extract. The effects of the methanol leaf extract of A. occidentale on the concentration of total proteins and specific activity of catalase were determined and assayed respectively using standard methods. The extract at the three doses [100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (b.w)] caused significant (p < 0.05) and doserelated increases in the concentration of total proteins and specific activity of catalase in the rats of the test groups compared to those of the rats in the ulcer-untreated group (group 2). The 400 mg/kg b.w of the extract exerted the greatest effects in a manner similar to those of the standard anti-ulcer drug, famotidine at the dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. The remarkable amelioration of the amount of total proteins and specific activity of catalase in the ulcerated rats by the methanol leaf extract of A. occidentale encourages the local utilisation of the leaves of the plant in the treatment of gastric ulcer.

Keywords: Proteins, Anacardium occidentale, Catalase and Gastric ulcer.