Ulcero-Protective Potential of Ethyl Acetate Fractions of Persea americana Seed and Bryophyllum pinnatum Leaf Binary Combinations in Indomethacin Induced Gastric Ulcer

Aims: This study was aimed at investigating the protective potential of ethyl acetate fractions of Persea americana (PA) seed and Bryophyllum pinnatum (BP) leaf binary combinations against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers. 
Methodology: Fifty (50) male Wistar rats were used in this study; they were assigned into 10 groups of five animals each and respective groups received a standard rat diet and drinking water ad libitum. The groups were group 1 (normal control group (NC)), group 2 (ulcer control (UC)), group 3 (Omeprazole, 20mgkg-1 (OMEP)), group 4 (PA) and group 5 (BP). Groups receiving binary combinations were group 6 (PA + BP, 1:1), group 7 (PA + BP, 1:2), group 8 (PA + BP, 1:3), group 9 (PA + BP, 2:1), group 10 (PA + BP, 3:1) each group was pre-treated with 400 mgKg-1 body weight/day of respective fraction or binary mixture by intubation for 21 days. On the 22nd day after overnight fasting, a gastric ulcer was induced with indomethacin (30mg/kg body weight) by intubation in a single dose. Ulcer markers and histopathology of stomach tissues were measured using standard methods. 
Results: The present study revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction of the plants PA seeds and BP leaf showed potent gastric tissue protective effects. Analysis of gastric changes indicated a significant (P<0.05) reduction in ulcer index, gastric acid output, gastric mucus content and pepsin activity  of ulcerated rats pretreated with PA and BP fractions. The effect of the binary combinations was significantly (p<0.05) higher than single plant fractions. The protective effect of the fractions was in the order OMEP > PA+BP (3:1) > PA+BP (2:1) > PA+BP (1:1), > PA+BP (1:2) > PA+BP (1:3) > PA > BP. The observed ulcero-protective effect of the binary combinations of P. americana seed and B. pinnatum leaf may be attributed to the synergy of the phytochemicals contained in the fractions. 
Conclusion: These findings suggest that P. americana and B. pinnatum ethyl acetate fraction combination favorably protect against indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal oxidative damage, reducing ulcer index, gastric acid output, gastric mucus content and pepsin activity. The ethyl acetate fractions exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of ulcer formation in indomethacin gastric ulcer model.