Evaluation of antiulcer activity of carica papaya root

Abstract

Gastric ulcer is a common disease with multiple etiologies. In present study the anti ulcer activity of aqueous Carica papaya root extract on ethanol induced gastric ulcer is investigated in Wistar rats of either sex. Thirty (30) rats weighing between 180 and 250 g were randomly divided into five groups. Group 1 served as the negative control (distilled water), groups 2 served as the (positive control), group 3 and 4 received 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg Carica papaya root extract respectively, while group 5 received 40mg/kg rabeprazole and served as standard group. Two weeks after the oral administration, gastric ulcer was induced in all rats with ethanol (1 ml of 200g orally). Gastric juice volume, gastric acidity, ulcer index and percentage ulcer inhibition were determined. The results showed that the extract protected the gastric mucosa against ethanol effect. C. papaya extract significantly reduced the gastric juice volume and gastric acidity (p<0.05) in dose dependent manner when compared with the control [1]. The percentage ulcer inhibition was significantly high (p<0.05) in rats treated with the extract when compared with the control and the effect is similar to that of rats treated with rabeprazole. This study shows that C. papaya root extract may possess gastro protective effects against ethanol induced gastric ulcer in rats [2].