Comparative Effect of Curcuma longa and Piper nigrum Extract and their Mixture on some Gastric Secretory Parameters of Indomethacin-induced Gastric Ulceration in Albino Rats

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) which includes gastric and duodenal ulcer is one of the unresolved medical problems facing numerous patients in a wide range of age of both sexes worldwide. Many medicinal plants are known to exhibit antiulcer activity and some have been confirmed scientifically to possess gastro protective and antiulcer property and also found to be useful in its treatment. Among these medicinal plants turmeric (Curcuma longa) and black pepper (Piper nigrum) have been reported to possess gastroprotective potentials. However, the effect of the combination of turmeric and black pepper on some gastric secretory parameters of ulcerated rats hasn’t been considered. As a result, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of ethanol extract of Curcuma longa and Piper nigrum on some gastric secretory parameters of indomethacin induced gastric ulceration in albino rats. Total of sixty (60) albino rats was used for this study. After acclimatization for 14 days, the animals were randomly allocated into six groups (n=10).Group A (normal control): rats was fed on pellet and allowed free access to water, rats in Group B (Ulcerated control) were given only indomethacin at a dose of 50mg/Kg body weight. Animals in group C (Standard control) was given indomethacin after pre treatment with esomperazole (20mg/kg) body weight. Group D, E, and F comprised ulcerated rats pre treated with turmeric (200mg/kg body weight), black pepper (100mg/kg body weight), turmeric and black pepper (200mg/Kg + 100mg/kg respectively) body weight. Treatments with the reference drug and extracts lasted for 21 days prior to ulcer induction on the twenty-third day.4 h post ulcer induction, the animals were humanely sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia and gastric content drained into a centrifuge tube for further studies on some gastric secretory parameters. The study showed that TA levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in group B compared to the control group and all other groups. Conversely, TA levels were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in groups C, D, E, and F compared to the control, with group F showing the lowest levels among these, particularly lower than groups C and E. GpH levels were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in group B when compared to groups C, D, E, and F. However, GpH levels were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in groups D and E compared to the control, with group E having higher GpH levels than group C. Additionally, pepsin levels were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in group B relative to the control and other groups. Pepsin levels were also significantly (p < 0.05) higher in groups C, D, E, and F compared to the control, with group C having lower levels than groups D and E. It can therefore concluded based on the findings of this study that the combination of turmeric and black pepper extract had more gastroprotective effect than the individual extracts alone suggestive of the synergistic effect of these plants in the management of peptic ulcer disease. Keywords: Curcuma longa, Piper nigrum, Indomethacin and Gastric Ulceration