Effect Of The Methanol Extract Of The Leaves Of Anacardium Occidental On The Concentration Of Glutathione (Gsh) Of Indomethacin-Ulcerated Rats:- Njoku Vivian N

ABSTRACT v Plants have been the basis for medical treatments through much of human history and such traditional medicine is still widely in use today such as the leaves of Anacardium occidentale. The objectives of this work were to examine the phytochemical constituents, acute toxicity and lethality and effect of the methanol extract ofthe leaves ofA. occidentale on the concentration of glutathione (GSH) in indomethacin-ulcerated rats. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that the plant leaves contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, proteins, steroids, terpenoids and fats and oil. Resins, glycosides and acidic compounds were not detected in the extract. The extract at the administered doses [100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (b.w)] caused significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent increases in the GSH concentrations ofthe rats in the test groups compared to the value obtained for the rats in the control group. The effect ofthe 400 mg/kg b.w ofthe extract was similar to that of the standard anti-ulcer drug, famotidine at the dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. The results indicate that the methanol extract of the leaves of A. occidentale contains some pharmacological active principles which may cause improvement in the GSH concentration of an ulcerated rat.