Gastroprotective Effects of Methanol and Hexane Leaf Extracts of Saccharum spontaneum against Aspirin-induced Gastric Mucosal Injury in Rats: Histopathological and Mechanistic Insights

Aspirin, a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is known to induce gastric mucosal injury upon prolonged use. This study investigates the gastroprotective potential of methanol (MESS) and hexane (HESS) leaf extracts of Saccharum spontaneum against aspirin-induced gastric lesions in albino rats. Gastric ulcers were induced via oral administration of aspirin (200 mg/kg body weight), with omeprazole (10 mg/kg) serving as the standard reference drug. Forty-nine rats were randomly assigned into seven groups (n=7): Group I (control), Group II (aspirin only), Group III (aspirin + omeprazole), Groups IV and V (aspirin + MESS at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively), and Groups VI and VII (aspirin + HESS at 200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively). Extracts were administered orally for 14 days post-ulcer induction. At the end of the treatment period, animals were sacrificed, and gastric tissues were collected for ulcer index evaluation and histopathological analysis. Administration of MESS and HESS at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg significantly lowered the mean ulcer index to 3.00 ± 1.41 and 2.50 ± 1.29 for MESS, and 2.75 ± 0.96 and 2.22 ± 0.82 for HESS, respectively, when compared to the aspirin-ulcerated group, which had a mean ulcer index of 5.88 ± 0.70. Histological examination revealed that aspirin caused extensive mucosal damage characterized by necrosis, hemorrhage, and inflammation. In contrast, treatment with S. spontaneum extracts preserved mucosal integrity with only mild epithelial abrasion and minimal inflammatory changes, with the HESS extract exhibiting better cytoprotection against gastric mucosal damage. These findings suggest that Saccharum spontaneum leaf extracts, especially the methanol fraction, exert a protective effect against NSAID-induced gastric mucosal injury, likely through mechanisms involving mucosal preservation and anti-inflammatory activity. Thus, S. spontaneum holds promise as a potential phytotherapeutic candidate for managing aspirin-induced gastric ulcers.