Gastroprotective and hepatoprotective effects of the fruit peels extract of a hybrid plant Citrus x paradisi Macfad. (Rutaceae) against ethanol-induced-gastric ulcer and paracetamol-induced-hepatitis on Wistar strain male rats.

Abstract

Introduction: Diseases of the digestive system and liver are the leading cause of hospitalization worldwide, at around 12.2%. In particular hepatotoxicity which affects more than fifty million people worldwide and peptic ulcer disease. Moreover, the therapies used for the treatment of these diseases are not only very expensive but also present numerous
 
 undesirable side effects (hypersensitivity, arrhythmia, impotence, hematopoietic changes). The use of medicinal plants and herbal medicine probably make a considerable contribution. And the present study demonstrates it.
 Material and Method: 200 and 400 mg of crude ethanolic fruit peel extract (EFPE) were administered by nasogastric tube to two groups of G and H rats consisting of 3 batches of 5 rats each. The 3 batches representing the neutral, negative and positive controls. Then, gastric ulcer and hepatitis was induced in rats according to the Kanbur and al.’s procedures. Results and Discussion: The percentages of protection of the gastric mucosa are 6 - 7 times higher than those of rats pretreated with distilled water and close to nearly 90% than that of omeprazole at 20 mg / kg. At equal concentrations (200 mg / kg bw) the gastroprotective effect of the FFPE therefore appears to be 1.2 greater than that reported by Selmi et al., 2017 [5] on the fruit peels of the parent C. sinensis. The lowest serum transaminases (AST, ALT, ALP) levels were observed in rats pretreated with EFPE at 200 mg / kg bw. Oral administration of 200mg/kg bw of the EFPE equally twice that of silymarin would lead to a decrease in transaminases comparable to that of silymarin administered at 100 mg / kg used as a reference sample. The hepatoprotective effect of EFPE are similar with those observed on seeds by Udom et al., 2018 [6]. These results are consistent with macroscopic and histological examination of the damaged tissue. Conclusion: The EFPE of Citrus x paradisi has gastroprotective and hepatoprotective effects which would be comparable to those of Omeprazole and Sylmarin orally administered.