The gastroprotective property of Centella asiatica Linn. ethanolic leaf extract on Indomethacin-induced ulcer in male Sprague-Dawley rats

Thryssa Johanna B Cardenas, Mary Grace E Angelo, Joseph Rigo M Atienza, Christopher Timothy L Azarraga, John Karol R Cabredo and Alec Marion M Callao

The gastroprotective property of Centella asiatica Linn. ethanolic leaf extract on Indomethacin-induced ulcer in male Sprague-Dawley rats

Thryssa Johanna B Cardenas, Mary Grace E Angelo, Joseph Rigo M Atienza, Christopher Timothy L Azarraga, John Karol R Cabredo and Alec Marion M Callao

University of Santo Tomas, Philippines

: J Pharm Drug Deliv Res

Abstract

A recent study has shown that the group pretreated with Centella asiatica leaf extract exhibited significant protection from ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. No information on the effect of Centella leaf extract against drug-induced ulcer is currently available. The present study aimed to compare the gastroprotective property of Centella asiatica leaf extract and omeprazole against indomethacin-induced ulcer in Sprague-Dawley rats. The leaf extract was initially prepared by percolation of air-dried, powdered leaves in ethyl alcohol and subsequently fractioned using hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate as solvents. High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis showed that the ethyl acetate fraction contained the highest amount of asiaticoside, an active component associated with several pharmacological activities of Centella, thus, the ethyl acetate fraction was utilized in both subchronic and gastroprotective study. The organ weights manifested a slight increase but the plant extract did not manifest any toxicological side effects. The gastroprotective property of the ethyl acetate fraction at 250 and 500 mg/kg BW and Omeprazole at 20 mg/kg BW were assessed after pre-treatment with test agents for 21 days and induction of ulcers with single-dose indomethacin. The pH levels of Centella and Omeprazole were relatively higher compared to the control group and the lesion size of both groups were smaller and less distinctive as compared to the control group. Omeprazole had an ulcer with a shallower depth compared to the ulcers found in Centella. The findings showed that Centella leaf extract promotes gastroprotective activity as ascertained grossly and histopathologically compared to the control group.