Comparative Effect of Curcuma longa and Piper nigrum Extract and their Mixture on some Haematological Indices 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 the haematological indices of ulcerated rats hasn’t been considered. As a result, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Curcuma longa and Piper nigrum on some haematological 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 omperazole (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 blood samples were collected for further haematological studies. The result obtained from this study showed that there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in PCV, HbC, TWBC, NEUT, MON, EOS, BAS, RBC and PLT levels across all groups, with LYM being significantly (p < 0.05) different in group E compared with Group F. The study found that Curcuma longa and Piper nigrum extracts, either alone or in combination, do not significantly alter haematological indices in albino rats with gastric ulcers caused by indomethacin, suggesting they may be beneficial without negative systemic impact. However, lymphocyte levels significantly decreased in the group treated with a mixture of Curcuma longa and Piper nigrum, suggesting a potential mild immunomodulatory effect. Keywords: Haematological Indices, Indomethacin, Ulcer, Curcuma longa and Piper nigrum