Anti-ulcerogenic properties of the aqueous and methanol extracts from the leaves of Solanum torvum Swartz (Solanaceae) in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Solarium torvum (Solanaceae) is a plant currently used in Cameroon ethnomedicine for the treatment of stomach ailments. Aim of the study: The present study was undertaken to determine the anti-ulcer potential of the aqueous and methanol extracts from the leaves of Solanum torvum. Materials and methods: The aqueous and methanol extracts from the leaves of Solanum torvum were tested orally at the doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg, on gastric ulcerations experimentally induced by HCl/ethanol, indomethacin, pylorus ligation and stress. The fractionation of the methanol extract through silica gel column chromatography produced seven different fractions (A-G) which were tested orally at the dose of 100 mg/kg against HCl/ethanol-induced ulceration. Results: The methanol extract at the dose of 750 mg/kg produced 98.12, 99.16, 98.70 and 96.03% inhibition when gastric ulcerations were induced by HCl/ethanol, indomethacin. pylorus ligation and stress, respectively. The aqueous extract at the same dose produced 96.55, 96.86, 98.63 and 98.63% inhibition on ulcerations induced respectively by HCl/ethanol, indomethacin, pylorus ligation and stress. All the fractions of the methanol extract significantly inhibited ulcer formation. Fraction F which contains flavonoids and triterpens was the most active and exhibited an inhibitory percentage of 84.74. Both extracts significantly increased mucus production and reduced gastric acid secretion. Conclusions: The aqueous and methanol extracts of the leaves of Solanum turvum possess anti-ulcerogenic properties that may be due to cytoprotective mechanism. These results support the ethnomedical uses of the plant in the treatment of gastric ulcer. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.