Anti-Ulcerative Colitis Activity of the Aqueous Leaves Extract of Khaya Senegalensis in Acetic Acid-Induced Colitis Rat Model

Abstract

intestinal tract mainly colon. The disease is characterized by diarrhoea, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Khaya senegalensis a plant commonly called dry zone Mahogany has been used as a remedy for several human gastrointestinal ailments. Objectives: To investigate the effect of aqueous leaves extract of Khaya senegalensis in the acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis rat model. Study design: Preclinical randomised controlled trial. Methods: extraction was done using water, initial phytochemical screening and oral LD50 were determined. Colitis was induced in rats using 4% acetic acid administered intra rectally. The rats were divided into five groups, group 1 received water, groups 2, 3, and 4 received graded doses of leaves extract while group 5 received prednisolone as the positive control. Symptomatic parameters like the daily stool consistency and appearance and histological parameters such as ulcer area, lesson severity score, ulcer index, weight/length ratio and percentage cure were measured. Results; The leaves extract showed presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, volatile oil etc. The oral LD50 was greater than 5000mg/kg and the efficacy of the 400mg/kg extract administered group was not statistically significantly different from the positive control group that received the standard drug prednisolone. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the aqueous leaves extract of Khaya senegalensis possess significant anti-ulcerative colitis activity on acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis rat models and appears to be safe.