Antiulcer and antioxidant activity of Acacia arabica extract in alcohol and NSAIDS-induced gastric injury in animal model

Peptic ulcer disease is a gastrointestinal condition characterized by sores in the stomach’s inner lining due to excessive gastric acid production. Acacia species are well known for phenolic and flavonoid content. In our earlier published reports, we reported that roots of closely resembling species, i.e., Acacia catechu has demonstrated significant anti-gastro-ulcerative property, thus roots of E. Acacia arabica Willd. possessing similar activity seemed quite significant. The present study was aimed to determine antiulcerogenic and antioxidant potential of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extract of Acacia arabica roots. Hydro-methanol and aqueous extract of Acacia arabica Willd. roots were prepared by using Soxhlet extraction method. Both prepared extracts were screened for their antioxidant potential by using various in vitro assays such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, and 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) reducing power assay. Acute toxicity study of both extracts was determined by using 2000 mg/kg limit test dose as per OECD 423 guidelines, and then, antiulcerogenic effect of both prepared extracts was evaluated against alcohol-induced and NSAIDS-induced gastric ulcer in a rat model. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of extracts were also determined. Both extracts showed significant DPPH free radical scavenging and ABTS reducing power activity which further supported its antiulcerogenic potential in ulcer animal models. Results of acute toxicity study showed no mortality and morbidity in tested animals and then 1/5th and 1/10th dose of limit test dose was selected. Oral administration of both extracts exhibited significant and dose-dependent reduction in gastric lesions induced in both rat models at tested dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg, when compared to standard drug. However, hydroalcoholic extract at tested dose of 400 mg/kg showed more significant antiulcer effect with maximum percentage ulcer inhibition of 76.66% alcohol-induced and 79.82% of NSAID-induced ulcer model may be attributed to more phenolic and flavonoid content. The study concluded that the roots of A. arabica possess potential antiulcer may be attributed to its antioxidant activity due to presence of phenolic and flavonoid content.