Gastroprotective and Antigastric Ulcer Effects of the Methanol Fraction of <i>Cleistopholis Patens</i> Leaves on Two Ulcer Models in Rats

<i>Background</i>: <i>Cleistopholis patens </i>leaves are used to treat stomach disorders in Nigeria. This research investigated the gastroprotective and antigastric ulcer effects of the methanol fraction of <i>Cleistopholis</i> patens leaves (MFCPL) in rats. <i>Methods</i>: <i>In vitro</i> experiments involved DPPH-radical scavenging and H+/K+-ATPase inhibitory activities. Two ulcer models, diclofenac sodium (DS) (using 50 mg/kg b.w. DS orally) and acidified ethanol (AE) (using 0.3 M HCl + 60% ethanol orally), were used. The experimental rats (n=24) were grouped into 6 of 4 groups for each of the DS and AE ulcer models. In the DS model, group 1 served as the normal group, whereas group 2 was ulcer-induced without treatment. Group 3 received 20 mg/kg b.w. omeprazole, whereas groups 4, 5 and 6 received 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. MFCPL, respectively, for 14 days. For the AE ulcer model, 7 days after pretreatment with MFCPL, all groups except group 1 received acidified ethanol and were sacrificed after 1 hr. The ulcer indices, gastric mucosa morphology and serum antioxidant status of the rats were evaluated. Additionally, GC‒MS analyses of MFCPL were carried out. <i>Results</i>: The MFCPL had H<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>-ATPase-inhibiting and DPPH-radical-scavenging activities, with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC<sub>50</sub>) of 50.10 ± 10.52 μg/ml and 16.72 ± 2.47 μg/ml, respectively. Compared with the ulcer control, the administration of MFCPL led to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in total ulcer counts and gastric volumes with high pH. Compared with those in the control group, the number of gastric lesions in the treated group was markedly lower than that in the control group. The antioxidant status of the treated rats improved. GC‒MS analyses of the MFCPL revealed 20 bioactive compounds. <i>Conclusion</i>: MCPL has an antigastric ulcer effect attributable to its H+/K+-ATPase inhibition and antioxidant activities due to its rich bioactive components and hence can be used to manage ulcers and their associated biochemical aberrations.