Effects Of The Ethanol Extract Of The Leaves Of Carica Papaya On Gastric Juice Volume And Gastric Juice Ph Of Aspirin-Ulcerated Rats :- Ochiabutor, Onyedikachi C

ABSTRACT Plants have been the bases for many medical treatments through much of human history and such traditional medicine is still widely in use today such as the leaves of Carica papaya. The objectives of this work were to examine the phytochemical constituents, acute toxicity and lethality and effects of the ethanol extract of the leaves of C. papaya on gastric juice volume and gastric djuice pH of aspirin-ulcerated rats. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed that the plant leaves contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates, glycosides, proteins, steroids, terpenoids and fats and oil but resins, reducing sugars and acidic compounds were not detected. The extract at the tested doses [100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (b.w)] caused significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent decreases in the gastric juice volumes ofthe rats in the test groups compared to the values obtained for the rats in the control group. Significant (p < 0.05) and dose-related increases in gastric juice pH ofthe rats in the test groups compared to that ofthe rats in the control group was also brought about by the extract. The effects of the 400 mg/kg b.w of the extract were similar to those of the standard anti-ulcer drug, ranitidine at the dose of 150 mg/kg b.w. The results validate the traditional application of the leaves of C. papaya in the treatment of gastric ulcer.