Ulcer healing effect of ethanolic extract of unripe musa paradisiaca on aspirin induced gastric ulceration in adult wistar rats

This study investigated the ulcer healing potential of unripe Musa paradisiaca fruit on aspirin induced gastric ulcer. Twenty five (25) adult wistar rats were divided into five groups (A, B, C, D and E) of five rats each. Group A was administered with 2ml/kg distilled water orally (normal control), Group B was administered with 300mg/kg b.w aspirin orally (negative control) Groups C-E were administered with 300mg/kg aspirin orally prior to treatment with 100, 500 and 1000mg/kg b.w orally respectively. The animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and ulcer index was determined on harvested stomach tissue. Oral administration of aspirin caused a significantly high ulcer index (1.53±0.46). However, treatment with extract of Musa paradisiaca fruit significantly reduced the ulcer index in a dose dependent manner in which 0.44±0.02 was recorded on 1000mg/kg of the extract. The observation was in concordance with that of the percentage ulcer inhibitory result which was also found to be dose dependent with 71.24% inhibition recorded on administration of 1000mg/kg of the extract. From the findings, it can be deduced that unripe Musa paradisiaca fruit have ulcer healing potential and should be recommended as an ideal diet for individuals on high risk category for gastric ulcer resulting from NSAID treatment.