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Abstract
An ethanol extract of Aframomum melegueta (AMZ) has been studied for its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and to protect gastroduodenal mucosa against the injuries caused by pyloric ligation, hypothermic restraint stress, indomethacin, cysteamine and cytodestructing agents (80% ethanol, 0.6 M HCl, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCl) in rats. The results of this study demonstrate that ethanol extract of AMZ had significant effects on various experimentally-induced ulcers. It produced a dose-dependent inhibition of basal gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats and reduced significantly the intensity of gastric lesions induced by pylorus ligation, hypothermic restraint stress, indomethacin, mucosal damaging agents and duodenal ulcers induced by cysteamine. The concentration of nonprotein-sulfhydryls was decreased significantly in gastric mucosa after administration of 80% ethanol. Treatment with AMZ extract replenished the reduced level of gastric mucosal nonprotein sulfhydryls. Acute toxicity tests showed no toxic symptoms and mortality over a period of 14 days with doses of 0.25–4g/kg. These findings suggest that AMZ extract exerts antiulcer effects by its antisecretory activity, increasing gastric mucosal resistance and cytoprotective activities.