Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The stem bark of Ficus thonningii is used by Ethiopian traditional healers and the community for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Thus, the current study was aimed at evaluating the antiulcer effect of hydro-methanol extract and solvent fractions of F. thonningii. METHODS: The stem bark of F. thonningii was collected and shed dried. Then, the stem bark was extracted by 80% hydro-methanol solvents and dried. The part of the dried hydro-methanol extract was further fractionated with n-hexane, chloroform, and distilled water. Dose-dependent pylorus ligation, curative indomethacin-induced, and time-dependent ethanol-induced ulcer models were evaluated for the hydro-methanol extract and solvent fractions. Statistical analysis was done by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. The analyses were carried out using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey's multiple comparison tests. The result was considered significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: The extract of F. thonningii showed a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in total acidity at all the tested doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg). All the tested doses of the hydro-methanol extract significantly reduced the gastric volume as compared to the vehicle (NC) (p < 0.01). The gastric pH was significantly (p < 0.05) increased by 200 and 400 mg/kg. Similarly, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg significantly (p < 0.05) lowered gastric ulceration as compared to the NC. The hydro-methanol extract and aqueous fractions of F. thonningii at 200 mg/kg showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the ulcer index on a repeated dose of the hydro-methanol and solvent fractions. Ulcer healing effect on indomethacin-induced ulcer was not significant (p > 0.05) for all tested doses of the hydro-methanol extract. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated that the stem bark of F. thonningii has a potential antiulcer activity that might be due to antisecretory or cytoprotective effects.