Antiulcerogenic activity of virgin coconut oil on ulcer induced rats

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a lesion of the gastric or duodenal mucosa occurring at a site where the mucosal epithelium is exposed to acid and pepsin. Factors such as stress, smoking, nutritional deficiencies and ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) contribute to the incidence of gastric ulcerations. Currently available medicinal treatments generally based on the inhibition of gastric acid secretion and work as acid-independent therapy have a high rate of ulcer recurrence and cause various side effects. Therefore, it is mandatory to search for new anti-ulcer agents. Recently, Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) is gaining wide popularity in the global market. It is extracted via fermentation and/ or through wet processes compared to coconut oil (CO) which are extracted through Refined–Bleached-Deodarized (RBD) process and undergoes high heating treatments. As VCOs are produced under a controlled temperature, therefore it may have more beneficial effects than the commercial oil since it retains most of the unsaponifiable components. Two different types of VCOs labeled as VCO A and VCO B were donated by MARDI, while CO is produced through the conventional method. Their total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were studied followed by fatty acid analysis and other chemical properties. The antiulcer activity of VCOs over CO was evaluated by using in-vivo models of acute gastric lesions induced by HCl / ethanol and diclofenac in rats. Moreover, the effect of the oils on gastric content, volume, pH and total acidity, using pylorus ligated model were also evaluated. Chemical composition analysis revealed that all three oils had lauric acid (C12:0) as the major fatty acid constituent. Other chemical parameters were also presented. VCO B showed highest antioxidant property followed by VCO A and CO the least with high phenolic content. Oils were administered orally for 7 days as the last dose one hour prior to ulcerogenic procedure. Ulcer index scoring, ulcer length and cure ratio (%)were determined, followed by microscopic assessment of inflammation scoring and damage scoring. VCO B (100%) significantly prevented gastric ulcer formation induced by HCl/ ethanol and diclofenac (P<0.001) followed by VCO A (100%) compared negative control group. Similarly, CO also significantly (P<0.00) prevented gastric ulcer formation as compared to negative control group. In the pylorus ligated model, it was observed that VCO B (100%) displayed a significant antisecretory activity (P<0.001) which lead to the reduction in the gastric juice,volume, total acidity and pH. This is followed by VCO A and CO which also significantly (P<0.01) reduces the gastric juice volume, total acidit, pH and increase in mucus content. These findings indicate that VCO B, followed by VCO A and CO displays a good anti-ulcer activity as compared to negative control group.

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