Gastroprotective Properties and Phytochemical Constituents of Leaf Methanol Extract of Phyllanthus discoideus on Diclofenac-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Abstract

Medicinal plant studies are important for the identification of potential therapeutic agents. Leaves of Phyllanthus discoideus are used in African traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory agents and also as an analgesic. This study aimed to screen the phytochemical compounds present in Phyllanthus discoideus leaves and subsequently evaluate the gastroprotective activity of the leaves’ methanolic extract using diclofenac induced gastric ulcer model in rats. This study employed a laboratory-based experimental study design. The leaves of Phyllanthus discoideus were collected, authenticated, air-dried. Solvent extraction was done using cold maceration in methanol to obtain the crude methanol extract. Liquid - liquid fractionation was used to obtain different fractions. Acute toxicity of the extract was determined using the Lorke’s method. Preventive and curative methods were used for the gastro-protective activity study. For the preventive method, the animals were treated with 400 mg of the crude extract and fractions for seven days followed by induction of gastric ulcerwith diclofenac (100 mg). The animals were then sacrificed and the ulcer scores and percentage (%) preventive index determined. In the curative method, diclofenac (100 mg) was administered to the animals to induce ulcer in the rats followed by treatment with the extract and fractions of the plant. Thereafter, the animals were sacrificed and their ulcer index and % curative index determined. The results indicated that P. discoideus exhibited gastro-protective effect against Diclofenac- induced gastric ulcer. For both curative and preventive method, treatment with butanol fraction gave the highest gastro-protective effect with percentage curative index of 93.33% (ulcer index=0.2) and percentage preventive index of 88.88% (ulcer index=0.4). Preliminary phytochemical screening conducted showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, and saponins. The study demonstrated that the leaves of Phyllanthus discoideus have potential as an alternative treatment and preventive measure for gastric ulcers.