title: Anti-ulcerogenic activity of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed on indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in male albino rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Carica papaya is an important fruit with its seeds used in the treatment of ulcer in Nigeria. This study investigated the anti-ulcerogenic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed against indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in male rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty male rats were separated into 6 groups (A-F) of five rats each. For 14 d before ulcer induction with indomethacin, groups received once daily oral doses of vehicle (distilled water), cimetidine 200 mg/kg body weight (BW), or aqueous extract of C. papaya seed at doses of 100, 150 or 200 mg/kg BW (groups A, B, C, D, E and F, respectively). Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, groups B, C, D, E and F were treated with 100 mg/kg BW of indomethacin to induce ulcer formation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carica papaya seed extract significantly (P< 0.05) increased gastric pH and percentage of ulcer inhibition relative to indomethacin-induced ulcer rats. The extract significantly (P< 0.05) decreased gastric acidity, gastric acid output, gastric pepsin secretion, ulcer index and gastric secretion volume relative to group B. These results were similar to that achieved by pretreatment with cimetidine. Specific activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the extract-treated groups (D, E and F) were increased significantly over the group B (P< 0.05). Pretreatment with the seed extract protected rats from the indomethacin-mediated decrease in enzyme function experienced by the group B. Similarly, indomethacin-mediated decrease in reduced glutathione level and indomethacin-mediated increase in malondialdehyde were reversed by Carica papaya extract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, pretreatment with aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed exhibited anti-ulcerogenic and antioxidant effects, which may be due to the enhanced antioxidant enzymes.
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240001, Nigeria.
authors: Hussein O B
authors: HO
authors: Oloyede
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240001, Nigeria.
authors: Matthew C
authors: MC
authors: Adaja
authors: Antioxidants, Free Radicals, Functional Foods and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin 230236, Nigeria.
authors: Taofeek O
authors: TO
authors: Ajiboye
authors: Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240001, Nigeria.
authors: Musa O
authors: MO
authors: Salawu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D029441:Carica; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D012639:Seeds; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007213:Indomethacin