Evaluation of Ethanol extract of dietary vegetable, Gongronema latifolium, for anti-ulcer activity

Abstract

Ethanol extract of dietary vegetable, Gongronema latifolium, was evaluated for anti-ulcer activity. The extract 
was obtained from air-dried, pulverized leaves of the plant following its maceration in ethanol, filteration with 
Whatman No. 1 filter paper and drying at 110°C. Fractionation of the dry crude ethanol extract was stepwisely 
carried out in with n-hexane, chloroform and ethylacetate, respectively, and their residual ethanol extract 
washed several times in ethanol. The four fractions were dried at low temperature and stored for use. The 
anti-ulcer activity of the crude extract was tested on indomethacin-induced and acid/ethanol-induced models 
of ulcer induction in rats. The activities of the fraction of the crude ethanol extract with respect, to reduction 
of ulcer index was evaluated only on indomethacin-induced ulcer model. The crude ethanol extract 
significantly (p<0.05) inhibited ulceration dose - dependently in the two ulcer models. This inhibition was 
higher in acid/ethanol model than in the indomethacin-induced ulcer model. The sub-fractions from the crude 
extract also inhibited ulcer with the chloroform fraction exhibiting the highest ulcer protection.