Attenuating Effect of Telfairia occidentalis on Oxidative Stress in Indomethacin-induced Gastric Ulcer in Male Rats.

Peptic ulcer is a major health challenge with high morbidity and mortality all over the world. This study investigated the involvement of oxidative stress in the healing and protective potentials of aqueous leave extract of Telfairia occidentalis (TO) on indomethacin induced gastric ulcers in adult Sprague Dawley male rats. The rats were divided into 6 groups (A-F) of 5 rats each, with A as normal control, B received single oral administration of 40mg/kg indomethacin without treatment for 4 hours; C received 40mg/kg indomethacin without treatment for 4 hours and scarified after 72 hours; D received 100mg/kg aqueous leave extract of TO for 7 days without ulcer induction; E (pre-treated test group) received 40mg/kg indomethacin after being pre-treated with 100mg/kg aqueous leave extract of TO daily for 7 days. Group F (Posttreated test) received 40mg/kg of indomethacin and treated four hours later with 100mg/kg aqueous leave extract of TO daily for 7 days. The results revealed changes in gastric macroscopic architecture of the mucosa, and changes in ulcer indices and oxidative stress markers levels in group B-F. These changes comparatively suggested that the leave-extract of Telfairia occidentalis has gastro-protective with minimal healing potentials mediated through reduced oxidative stress.