www.pelagiaresearchlibrary.com t Available online a Pelagia Research Library European Journal of Experimental Biology, 2015, 5(2): 74-80 ISSN: 2248 –9215 CODEN (USA): EJEBAU 74 Pelagia Research Library Anti-ulcerogenic and gastric anti-secretory effects of Nauclea latifolia extract in male albino rats Morufu E. Balogun 1* , Sikirullai O. Jeje 2 , Shakiru A. Salami 3 , Peter E. Onwe 1 and Moshood A. Folawiyo 1 1 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria 2 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Cross River University of Technology, Okuku Campus, Ogoja, Nigeria 3 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Anti-ulcerogenic and gastric anti-secretory effects of methanol extract of Nauclea latifolia was investigated in indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in rats. Sixty (60) male albino rats were divided into two experimental studies of thirty (30) rats each. Each of the experimental studies was further divided into groups according to study design. The extract was administered orally at the doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight for the experimental groups while the control and reference groups received distilled water (2ml/kg, p.o) and cimetidine (100 mg/kg, p.o) respectively. In the second study, gastric acid output was measured by the continuous perfusion of rat’s stomach under anesthesia with normal saline at the rate of 1 ml/min. Gastric acid, mucous secretion and ulcer index were determined according to standard procedures. The phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, anthraquinones and cardiac glycosides. The extract (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) exhibited significant (P<0.05), and dose-dependent inhibition of indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration that seems to be stronger than cimetidine (100 mg/kg). A significant decrease in gastric acid secretion with concomitant increase in intragastric mucous secretion was produced by the extract at all doses studied. The results suggest that the extract possesses a significant gastro protective effect in indomethacin-induced gastric lesions. Keywords: Nauclea latifolia; gastric ulcer; cimetidine; phytochemical screening; gastric acid; H 2 -receptors. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Peptic ulcer is one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases, which causes a high rate of morbidity particularly in the population of non-industrialized countries [1]. Pathophysiology of ulcer is due to an imbalance between aggressive factors (acid, pepsin, Helicobacter pylori, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs etc.) and local mucosal defensive factors (mucus, bicarbonate, blood flow, prostaglandins etc.). Gastro duodenal mucosa integrity is maintained through a homeostatic balance between these aggressive and defensive factors [2]. Previous researches have indicated a correlation between increased gastric acid secretion and predisposition to peptic ulcer [3, 4].