Methanolic Leaf Extract of Andrographis paniculata Mitigates Aspirin Induced Ulcerogenic and Biochemical Changes in Wistar Rats

This study was aimed at evaluating the ameliorative effect of methanol extract of Andrographis paniculata by aspirin induced ulcerogenic and biochemical changes in wistar albino rats. This study was measured by the following parameters; Total protein, Total Bilirubin, Albumin and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). Fifty rats (weighing about 150-250g) were evenly distributed into 5 groups of 10 rats each. Group 1 (Normal control) and group 2 (Positive control) received normal saline (10ml/kg), group 3 and 4 received 200mg/kg body weight and 400mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively and group 5 (standard) received 30mg/kg body weight omeprazole orally for 7 days. On day 7, groups 2,3,4 and 5 were fasted for 24 hours and on the 8th day the animal were induced with 200mg/kg body weight of aspirin orally. The animals were euthanized on the 9th day using chloroform anaesthesia. Blood was collected by puncturing the heart to perform a liver function assay. A portion of the liver and gastrointestinal tract of the rats were removed and preserved in 10% formalin for histological studies. The liver was also homogenised to conduct a lipid peroxidation assay. The study discovered that serum total protein, serum albumin and SOD activities in the positive control were significantly decreased (p<0.05) and total bilirubin was significantly increased when compared to normal control. However, pretreatment with Andrographis paniculata (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) in groups 3 and 4 respectively, significantly increased the levels of SOD activities, serum total protein, albumin and significantly decreased the level of total bilirubin compared to the positive control group. Treatment with omeprazole at dose 30mg/kg body weight also caused a significant decrease (p<0.05) in total bilirubin level and an increase in total protein, albumin and SOD compared to the positive control. These findings are confirmed by the histopathological results obtained. The results of the present study indic