IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861. Volume 8, Issue 6 (Jul.- Aug. 2013), PP 40-46 www.iosrjournals.org www.iosrjournals.org 40 | Page Evaluation of The Healing Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Musa Paradisiaca (Unripe Plantain) And Brassica Oleracea (Cabbage) on Peptic Ulcer. Enye J.C. 1 Chineke H. N. 2 , Onubeze D.P.M. 3 , Nweke I. 4 1 Department of Pharmacology, Madonna University Elele River State Nigeria. 2 Department of Family Medicine Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu South Eastern Nigeria. 3 Department of Community Medicine & Primary care, Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Nigeria 4 Department of Pharmacology, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria Abstract: Background : Peptic ulcer results from an imbalance between ulcer promoting factors (gastric acid, pepsin secretion) and ulcer preventing factors (gastric mucosa, prostaglandins). Unripe plantain and cabbage when used individually were effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer in folkloric medium. This hereby paved way for this research that involved the co-administration of aqueous extracts of Musa paradisiaca (plantain) and Brassica oleracea (cabbage) in the treatment of peptic ulcer. Objectives: To evaluate the healing effect of the aqueous extracts of Musa paradisiaca (plantain) and Brassica oleracen (cabbage) on peptic ulcer in rats, and the possible effect of these materials as prophylaxis against peptic ulcer. This could pave way for the production of anti-peptic ulcer drugs for use in clinical medicine. Methodology : A total of 45 rats of both sexes weighing 200-250g were used for this study. In the prophylactic study, 15 adult albino wistar rats were used. The animals were grouped into 5 groups of 3 animals each and were starved for 24 hrs before the experiment. Group 1 received 0.3ml of distilled water, group 2 received 100mg/kg of cimetidine, group 3 received 100mg/kg of Brassica oleracae extract, group 4 received 100mg/kg of Musa parasidiaca extract and group 5 received a combination of Musa paradistaca and Brassica oleracea extracts at the dose of 50mg/kg+ 50 mg/kg. I hr post treatment, peptic ulcer was induced in all the animals by a single oral administration of 30mg/kg of Indomethacin. 8 hrs after ulcer induction, each animal was sacrificed and the number of lesions in the stomach was counted. In the curative study, a total number of 30 rats were used. They were grouped into 5 groups of 6 animals each. The animals were denied access to food and water for 24hrs. Ulcer was induced in all the groups by single oral administration of 30mg/kg indomethacin. 8 hrs post ulcer induction, 2 animals from each group were sacrificed and the number of ulcer counted. The remaining animals in each group received treatment as follows: group 1 received 0.3ml of distilled water, group 2 received 100mg/kg of cimetidine, group 3 received 100mg/kg of Brassica oleracea extract, group 4 received 100mg/kg of Musa paradisiaca extract and group 5 received 50mg/kg combination of Musa paradisiaca and Brassica extract. They received the treatment for three days, then another 2 animals from each group were sacrificed and their number of ulcers counted. The remaining animals contained to receive treatment for another three days before their ulcer index were determined. The LD 50 test was carried out using the Lorke’s method. The phytochemical analysis was conducted using the trease and Evans method. Results: It showed that the co-administration of aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca and Brassica oleracea possessed peptic ulcer healing activity, and had more of prophylactic effect than curatve effect. It also showed that the separate dose of Musa paradisiaca extract and Brassica oleracea possesses more curative anti ulcer action when used individually than when co-administered. Conclusion: The extracts of Musa paradisiaca and Brassica oleracea has peptic ulcer healing activity. This could find some relevance in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Clinicians and pharmacologists will find this study highly relevant with a view to actually formulating a medicament from the extracts for use in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease in man. Key Words: Musa paradisiaca, Brassica oleracea, peptic ulcer. I. Introduction Musa paradisiaca (plantain fruit) is an important food in the humid tropical zone of Africa (1) It is undoubtedly one of the oldest cultivated crops in West Africa. It is called Ojoko by the Igbos in Nigeria. It has about 40 species and it is a perennial carbohydrate food crop with gestation period of 14 to 20