Evaluation of Ulcer Protective Effects of Methanol Stem Bark Extract and Fractions of Canarium schweinfurthii Engl. (Burseraceae) on Wistar Rats

Abstract

In Nigeria, native medicinal plants like Canarium schweinfurthii are used to treat peptic ulcer disease, yet their safety and efficacy are undetermined. The study evaluated methanol extract and Canarium Schweinfurthii fractions on Wistar rats for ulcer protection. Methanol stem bark extract and fractions of Canarium Schweinfurthii underwent phytochemical analysis. Acute toxicity was assessed using a modified Lorke’s method on healthy Wistar rats (200–240 g). The study involved four test groups: crude extract, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions, with low (200 mg/kg) and high (400 mg/kg) doses given to groups of five rats (n=5). The antioxidant capacity was evaluated through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests. Ulcer-protective effects of extracts and fractions were assessed using ethanol-induced and aspirin-induced ulcer models at varying doses. Additionally, gastrointestinal motility was analysed through charcoal transit tests to evaluate the inhibitory effects of the extracts. Data were examined with SPSS 27. Tannins, steroids, and alkaloids were absent from phytochemical screening. The crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction contained several phenols, flavonoids, proteins, and carbohydrates. The extract's LD50 exceeded 5000 mg/kg, indicating safety. The most antioxidant fraction was ethyl acetate, followed by butanol. Treatment had no significant (p>0.05) pH alterations. Ethyl acetate and n-hexane fractions provided moderate ulcer protection (45.45%) in ethanol-induced models, but not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In aspirin-induced model, butanol fraction (400 mg/kg) showed effects comparable to omeprazole regarding gastric acid volume, total acidity, ulcer scores, and ulcer protection percentage. Omeprazole achieved an ulcer protection percentage of 85.7%, while the butanol (400 mg/kg) fraction provided 74.1%, indicating the protective efficacy of the plant's stem bark fraction. Conclusion. Our findings underscore the safety, abundant phytochemical composition, and ulcer-protective properties of the butanol fraction of C. schweinfurthii stem bark, justifying its local use as an alternative in the management of acid-induced ulcers.