Antiulcer Activity of Justicia insularis Leaf Extract on Experimentally-Induced Ulcers in Rats

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a significant gastrointestinal disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, imposing substantial burden on individuals, healthcare systems and economies. The available treatment options are not devoid of attendant sequalae. The search for less toxic, more effective and cheaper alternatives has continued to be areas of active research. The use of plants in the treatment of ulcer is one of such alternatives. Justicia insularis (Family-Acanthaceae) is a vegetable commonly used indigenously among southern people of Nigeria especially among the Ibibios of the South – South region for the treatment of various types of diseases including but not limited to malaria and gastrointestinal disorders. The antiulcerogenic activity of the leaf extract was evaluated against ulcers experimentally-induced in rats. Three doses (150, 300 and 450 mg/kg) of the leaf extract of Justicia insularis were used to investigate the antiulcer activity in three experimental models; indomethacin, ethanol and histamine-induced ulcers. The animals weighing 128-146 g were fasted overnight before being randomized into different experimental groups and treated with extract, drugs and ulcerogens. In each model, the animals were sacrificed after the required period of time and their stomachs removed and examined for ulcerations. Ulcer scores were awarded and preventive ratio calculated accordingly. The results showed that the leaf extract (150-450 mg/kg) exhibited dose-dependent and significant (p<0.05-0.001) antiulcer potential against ulcers induced by indomethacin, ethanol and histamine. These findings demonstrate that the leaf extract of Justicia insularis possesses antiulcer activity which could be attributable to the activities of the phytoconstituents in the extract and thus could give credence to the folkloric use of this plant in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease.