Anti-ulcer and Analgesic Activities of the Leaves of Capparis sepiaria L. and Maerua angolensis DC. (Capparidaceae)
David Bado
Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Chemistry, Joseph KI-Zerbo University (UJKZ), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Alphonsine Ramde-Tiendrebeogo *
Heath Sciences Research Institute, National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (IRSS/CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Nabere Ouattara
Daniel Ouezzin Coulibaly University, Dedougou, Burkina Faso.
Mathieu Nitiema
Heath Sciences Research Institute, National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (IRSS/CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Tata Kadiatou Traore
Heath Sciences Research Institute, National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (IRSS/CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Abdoul Gilchrist Laurent Boly
Heath Sciences Research Institute, National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (IRSS/CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Vincent Rouamba
Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Chemistry, Joseph KI-Zerbo University (UJKZ), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Moussa Compaore
Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Chemistry, Joseph KI-Zerbo University (UJKZ), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Noufou Ouedraogo
Heath Sciences Research Institute, National Center for Scientific and Technological Research (IRSS/CNRST), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Martin Kiendrebeogo
Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Chemistry, Joseph KI-Zerbo University (UJKZ), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Innocent Pierre Guissou
Faculty of Health Sciences, St Thomas d’Aquin University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The leaves of Capparis sepiaria and Maerua angolensis are consumed by some populations in Burkina Faso and are traditionally associated with gastrointestinal uses. This study evaluated the anti-ulcer and analgesic activities of aqueous leaf extracts of both plants in mice. Gastroprotective activity was assessed using ethanol-induced gastric ulcer models under acute and chronic conditions, while analgesic activity was evaluated using acetic acid-induced abdominal contortions. In the acute model, Capparis sepiaria extract at 500 mg/kg produced 92% protection of the gastric mucosa, compared with 96% for sucralfate. The ulcer index decreased from 10 at 300 mg/kg to 4.83 at 500 mg/kg for Capparis sepiaria. In the chronic model, the ulcer index decreased from 0.83 in the ulcer control to 0.08 with selected extract treatments, and extracts of both plants showed a better healing of ulcer lesions at all tested doses after seven days of treatment. Analgesic activity increased with dose. At 500 mg/kg, Maerua angolensis produced 75% inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal contortions, equal to the inhibition observed with paracetamol at 100 mg/kg. These findings indicate that the leaf extracts exhibited gastroprotective, ulcer-healing, and analgesic activities under the experimental conditions used. They provide a scientific basis for further evaluation of these plants for the development of improved traditional medicines or nutraceutical applications for gastrointestinal disorders.
Keywords: Capparis sepiaria, Maerua angolensis, ulcer, pain, ulcer healing, analgesic activity, gastric mucosa