{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.032816773017319965, 'fraction_numerical': 0.018687329079307202, 'mean_word_length': 5.380813953488372, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Evaluation of Vernonia amygdalina Leaves for Gastroprotective Activity on Experimental Models of Gastric Ulcer in Rats

Background: Vernonia amygdalina del. (Arecaceae) leaf, popularly known as ‘Bitter leaf’ is widely used as a leafy vegetable in soups and in folkloric medicine against many ailments including stomach discomfort. 
Aim: The current study aimed to assess the gastroprotective effect of the crude aqueous extract of V. amygdalina leaves (AEVAL) on Hydrochloric acid (HCl)/Ethanol gastric ulcer models. 
Study Design: An animal experimental study which was conducted for 14 days. 
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Animal House, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, between May 2013 and August 2014. 
Methodology: Preliminary acute toxicity testing was performed. Twenty (25) rats were divided into five groups (n=5). Groups I and II were normal and ulcer control groups respectively. Groups III, IV and V were pretreated with cimetidine (100 mg/kg), 250 mg/kg AEVAL and 500 mg/kg AEVAL respectively. Cimetidine and AEVAL were administered intraperitoneally and orally, respectively, once daily for 7days. After drug treatments on Day 7, gastric ulcers were induced using HCl/ethanol solution (1ml/rat) prior to sacrifice. Ulcer indices and percentage ulcer inhibition were determined. The stomach tissues were excised, histologically processed and evaluated for histopathological alteration under light microscopy. 
Results: Acute toxicity testing revealed that AEVAL at a dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight did not cause any mortality. Macroscopical evaluation of the gastric mucosa revealed severe lesions following induction with HCl/ethanol. However, profound protective effects were observed with cimetidine and AEVAL (250 and 500 mg/kg) pretreatments with ulcer inhibition of 79%, 58% and 76% respectively. Histopathological findings were consistent with the macroscopical features observed. 
Conclusion: Data from this study suggest that oral treatment with V. amygdalina leaves extract exhibited gastroprotective activities against the injurious effects of acidified ethanol on the gastric mucosa of albino rats.