Acute toxicity profile and gastroprotective potential of ethanolic leaf extract of Manihot esculenta Crantz

•The leaves of Manihot esculenta exhibited gastroprotective effect in acidified-ethanol induced ulcer in rats by significantly reducing ulcer index and Ki67 immunoreactivity whiles elevating gastric pH.•The leaves of Manihot esculenta produced no observed adverse effects in rats at an oral dose of 2000 mg/kg.•Qualitative phytochemical screening of the leaves of Manihot esculenta revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenols, and cardiac glycosides.