Abstract

The root of Ziziphus abyssinica, stem barks of Balanites aegyptiaca and Acacia niloticahave been used singly and in combination as a folk medicine in Northwest Nigeria for the treatment of ulcer. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antiulcer activities of each herb when used singly and in combination. Aqueous extracts of the three plants were obtained by Soxhlet extraction. The antiulcer activities of 300 mg/kg each of the extracts and the extracts combined in equal parts were evaluated by ethanol and indomethacin induced gastric lesions models in Wister rats. In ethanol induced ulcer model,Z. abyssinica gave the highest inhibition at 79.2%, while the A. nilotica 44.22% was the least. In the indomethacin induced ulcer model, the polyherb gave the highest inhibition at 50.43% while A. nilotica 10% was the least. Polyherb showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) of the mean ulcer index in the indomethacin model when compared to the other extracts. The herbs when used in combination could exhibit a more potent gastroprotective effect against non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (indomethacin) induced gastric ulceration than when used singly. This justifies the traditional usage of these herbs as polyherbs for ulcer treatment.

Key words: Ziziphus abyssinica, Balanites aegyptiaca, Acacia nilotica, polyherbs, anti-ulcer, folk medicine.