ANTI-ULCER AND ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSES OF TARAXACUM OFFICINALE (DANDELION) LEAF EXTRACTS AGAINST ETHANOLINDUCED GASTRIC ULCER IN RATS
Berezi E. P.*, Uwakwe A. A., Monago-Ighorodje C. C. and Nwauche K. T.
Abstract
Objective: One of the common gastrointestinal diseases is ulcer
caused by several necrotic agents. Synthetic commercial drugs had
been used to cure this damage but with some side effects. The aim of
this study is to investigate the antioxidant and ameliorative effects of
aqueous extracts of T. officinale (T.O) on absolute ethanol - induced
ulcer rats. Methods: Preliminary acute toxicity test of aqueous leaf
extracts of T. officinale was performed, on which, two dose levels of
250mg/kgbw and 500mg/kgbw were selected for this study.
Omeprazole (20mg/kg) was used as the standard drug. Results:
Evaluation of rats treated with the extracts showed significant (p ≤
0.05) decrease in the ulcer score index and an increase in the percentage inhibition. The
catalase and glutathione antioxidant activities were reduced in the ulcer group with respect to
the standard drugs and treated rats. Conclusion: These results indicate that T. officinale
showed anti-ulcer and antioxidant defense properties against ethanol-induced gastric injury in
a dose dependent manner.
Keywords: Taraxacum officinale extract (T.O.E), Omeprazole, Gastrointestinal, Catalase, Glutathione.
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