EFFECT OF ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF Emilia coccinea LEAF EXTRACT ON ETHANOL INDUCED GASTRIC DAMAGE IN ADULT WISTAR RATS

Abstract

The effect of the aqueous extract of Emilia coccinea leaves on ethanol- induced gastric damage was investigated on adult wistar rats for four weeks. 30 experimental animals weighing between 180g and 250g were used and they were divided into five groups of six animals each; groups A,B,C,D and E. Group A animals served as negative control, group B animals served as the positive control and they were given ethanol only, group C to E animals were administered with 1ml/kg of ethanol each to inducegastric erosion and they were later administered with the aqueous extract of Emilia coccinea leaves orally for four weeks. Group C animals were the low dose group and they were administered 200mg/kg body weight of the extract; Group D animals were the moderate dose group and were administered 400mg/kg body weight of the extract while Group E was the high dose group given 600mg/kg body weight of the extract.The animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks and the stomach tissue was harvested fortissue processing and histological observations.The experiment showed that the aqueous extract had ameliorative effects on ethanolinduced gastric damage in a dose- dependent- manner in the experimental animals.