Abstract

The leaves of Anacardium occidentale are used in folkloric medicine for the management of gastrointestinal disorders. This study evaluated the gastroprotective properties of methanol extract of A. occidentale leaf against ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers. Cold maceration method was used in the preparation of methanol extract of A. occidentale leaf. The extract was concentrated under reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator. The gastroprotective effects of the methanol extract of A. occidentale was tested at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg against ethanol and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer. Omeprazole and misoprostol were used as the positive controls for the ethanol and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models respectively while distilled water was used as the negative control. The effects of the extract on histamine receptor were also evaluated on isolated rabbit jejunum. The extract significantly (p < 0.05) reduced ulcer index in the treated rats relative to the negative control. The effects of the extract were comparable with the effects of the reference drugs. The extract relaxed spontaneously contracting rabbit jejunum and inhibited histamine induced contraction of rabbit jejunum. This study suggests a pharmacological basis for the folkloric use of Anacardium occidentale in the management of gastric ulcer.

Key words: Anacardium occidentale; ulcer; ethanol; indomethacin; misoprotol; omeprazole