Evaluation of Anti-Ulcerogenic Effects of the Crude Extract and Fractions of Dialium guineense Tree Bark in Ethanol-Induced Peptic Ulcer in Albino Rats

Background and Objective: Medicinal plants contain bioactive molecules with pharmacological potential for managing diseases. Peptic ulcer is a ravaging disease that has been attributed to cases of mortality across the globe and Dialium guineense; a medicinal plant could form bases for its amelioration hence, this study sets out to evaluate the anti-ulcerogenic potentials of a crude ethanol extract and fractions of Dialium guineense stem bark in ethanol-induced ulcer in albino rats. Materials and Methods: The biochemical effects of Dialium guineense stem bark in ethanol-induced ulcers were determined using standard protocols. The SPSS version 22 was used for the one-way ANOVA analysis (p<0.05). Results: For the gastro-protective estimation, ulcer index and percentage protection score of the treatment groups were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of the untreated groups and the standard drug (omeprazole) in a dose-dependent manner. There were significant (p<0.05) elevations in red blood cell and hemoglobin concentrations respectively in the groups co-treated with different fractions of Dialium guineense. The result also indicated a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the tumor necrotic factor-α and the interleukin-1β concentration across the fractions group compared with the normal group. The result of the antioxidant study showed significant (p<0.05) increases in the superoxide dismutase, catalase activities and glutathione concentrations of the co-treated groups compared to the untreated group. The organ histology showed protected stomach architecture in the co-treated groups compared to that of the negative control which showed full laceration of the stomach wall. Conclusion: Hence, it could be concluded that different fractions of Dialium guineense stem bark extract have an organo-protective activity which could be attributed to its high antioxidant activity as antioxidants have been found to reverse the toxicity caused by pro-oxidants.