Effect of Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) Fruit Extraction on Aspirin-Indued Gastric Ulcer in Male Swiss Albino Mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract

Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) has been reported to have medicinal uses based on the traditions of folk medicine. This study examined the prophylactic and curative effects of Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) fruit extracts on aspirin-induced gastric ulcers in male Swiss albino mice. Fifty 3-4 month-old mice weighing 30-40 g were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, namely: 1) Cimetidine, the positive control 2) Placebo, the negative control 3) 33% Ampalaya fruit extract 4) 66% Ampalaya fruit extract and 5) 100% Ampalaya fruit extract. Oral administration of 100%Ampalaya fruit extracts gave a significant protection against gastric damage caused by Aspirin based on gross and histopathological analyses. The effect of these extracts as an anti-ulcerogenic agent is comparable to the efficacy of Cimetidine, a known drug that can prevent and cure gastric ulcers. On the other hand, no significant difference was observed both in the gross and histopathological analyses based on the size and number of gastric lesions, degree of mucosal damage, necrosis and degree of inflammation between the mice treated with curative doses of Ampalaya and the mice in the negative control group. Furthermore, only the 100% fruit extract was able to treat gastric ulcers.