Hydroethanolic root extract of Ficus capensis exhibits antiulcerogenic activities in acetic acid-induced colitis rat model.

OBJECTIVES

Ficus capensis (FCE) is widely used in Ghana and some other West African countries to treat gastrointestinal diseases. This study examines the antiulcerogenic properties of the ethanol-based FCE root extract in rats using acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis model.

METHODS

Rats were arbitrarily assigned to 6 groups (n=5) and given either oral normal saline (10 mL/kg), sulfasalazine (500 mg/kg), or FCE (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) for 7 days. To induce colitis, 500 μL of acetic acid (4 % v/v) was given intrarectally on day 2. On the 8th day, rats were euthanized. Hematology, antioxidant, and histopathological investigations were assessed.

RESULTS

FCE significantly prevented body weight loss and reduced the colon weight/length ratio to 0.106 ± 0.004 g/cm relative to the control. Additionally, FCE reduced DAI to 2.035 ± 0.1216 compared to the control. The histopathology showed that FCE-treated colons reduced inflammatory scores compared to the control. Levels of NF-κB and TNF-α, gross colonic damage and epithelial cell loss were reduced. FCE elevated colonic SOD and CAT activity to 12.60 ± 1.327 and 9.60 ± 0.6713, correspondingly. Furthermore, the amount of MDA decreased to 29.72 ± 1.974 compared to the control. FCE increased levels of RBC and HGB, respectively, to 8.64 ± 0.48 (×106/µL) and 9.36 ± 0.62 g/dL and lowered WBC and NEU to 10.27 ± 0.36, 9.35 ± 0.62, 20.43 ± 0.82, and 18.47 ± 0.47, respectively, compared to the control.

CONCLUSIONS

Hydroethanolic root extract of FCE possesses antiulcerogenic effects.