ABSTRACT
Brassica oleracea (cruciferea) is among the rich unexploited world flora with folkloric medicinal uses (Alonso, 1998). The plant juice has been reported by clinical research to be used in the treatment of gastric ulcers and prevention of ulcers induced by drugs (Cheney, 1952). Gastric lesions result from an imbalance between aggressive and defensive factors. Both endogenous and exogenous irritants (aggressive factors) include: ethanol, gastric acid, reactive oxygen species, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) etc, damage the mucosal cells inducing cell death, which leads to the formation of gastric lesions (Holzer, 1998). In this study, the effect of extract Brassica oleracea (EBO) on ethanol- induced gastric 8 ulcers in albino rats was evaluated. An acute toxicity study of EBO was carried out using the method of Lorke (1983). Gastric ulcers were induced by oral administration of 70% ethanol (EtOH) 1ml/200g of rat. After 1hr, ulcer parameters were determined from mean ulcer score (P<0.05). Pre-treatment with oral administration of EBO at various concentrations 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. for 7days, dose-dependently protected the gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced ulcers, with preventive indices of 15, 41 and 83% and significantly decreased the percentage of ulceration by 100, 75 and 37.5% respectively. The severity of the reaction to ethanol on the gastric mucosa and cytoprotection conferred by EBO were apparent by histological assessment of the gastric mucosa. Acid concentration, total acid output and pepsin concentration of gastric secretion was determined from gastric juice collected, after 4hrs of pyloric ligation. In the normal rats, acid concentration, total acid output and pepsin concentration was found to be 1.88 � 0.24, 6.78 � 0.69 and 608�0.23 respectively; these was significantly decreased in the control rats (70% EtOH). Pretreatment with EBO at concentrations of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg b.w showed no statistical difference when compared with the control group, while cimetidine at 50mg/kg b.w afforded a significant increase in pepsin concentration and acid concentration. Preliminary phytochemical screening of Brassica oleracea gave the positive test for proteins, carbohydrate and flavonoids. These results indicate that the plant Brassica oleracea possesses a potent antiulcer activity, which justifies the ethnomedical, claim.