Antiulcer effect of Acacia nilotica seedpod aqueous extract on experimentally induced ulcer

Acacia nilotica is a plant used for the treatment of various ailments. This research was conducted to assess the anti-ulcerogenic property of A. nilotica seedpod using ethanol and indomethacin as ulcer-inducing agents. Experimental rats were grouped and orally pre-treated with varying doses of aqueous extract of A. nilotica seedpod and ranitidine (10 mg/kg bw) before the ulcer was induced using ethanol. Another set of rats were also post-treated with graded doses of aqueous extract of A. nilotica seedpod and ranitidine following induction of ulcer using indomethacin. The effect of the extract on ulcer indices, inflammatory markers, antioxidant defense systems was monitored. Aqueous extract of A. nilotica seedpod gave optimum gastroprotection (42.86%) and ulcer healing (70.25%) effect at 50 mg/kg bw. LD50 of the extract was greater than 3,000 mg/kg bw and secondary metabolites like phenolics, glycosides are present in trhe aqueous extract. The findings of the study show that A. nilotica seedpod has anti-ulcerogenic activity, thus, supporting its folkloric use for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD).