Gastroprotective and Haematological Effects of Chromolaena Odorata Leaf Extract Against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Injury in Albino Rats
TL;DR
Findings indicate an acute gastroprotective effect of C. odorata pretreatment against ethanol-induced gastric injury; they do not establish therapeutic efficacy in an established ulcer or long-term safety.
Abstract
Peptic ulcer disease remains an important gastrointestinal disorder, and acute ethanol exposure is widely used experimentally to produce gastric mucosal injury. This study evaluated the gastroprotective and haematological effects of Chromolaena odorata leaf extract against ethanol-induced gastric injury in adult albino rats. Thirty rats were allocated to six groups (n = 5): normal control, ulcer control, omeprazole (20 mg/kg), and C. odorata extract at 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg. The extract or omeprazole was administered 30 minutes before oral administration of 96% ethanol (10 ml/kg) to Groups 2-6; animals were sacrificed 2 hours after ethanol administration. Haematological, gastric biochemical, macroscopic, and histopathological outcomes were assessed. The ulcer control showed higher RBC (7.61±0.31 ×10⁶/mm³), PCV (46.80±1.30%), Hb (17.14±0.62 g/dl), WBC (13.08±1.65 ×10³/mm³), and platelet count (253.0±6.58 ×10³/mm³) than the normal control. Pretreatment with C. odorata generally shifted these indices toward normal values, with the 800 mg/kg group recording RBC 6.96±0.22 ×10⁶/mm³, PCV 44.20±0.84%, WBC 9.81±0.43 ×10³/mm³, and platelets 239.80±3.11 ×10³/mm³. The extract also increased gastric mucus, reduced pepsin activity and total acidity, and preserved gastric histo-architecture compared with the ulcer control. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey post-hoc testing was used, with significance set at p<0.05. These findings indicate an acute gastroprotective effect of C. odorata pretreatment against ethanol-induced gastric injury; they do not establish therapeutic efficacy in an established ulcer or long-term safety.