INVESTIGATION OF THE ANTIULCER PROPERTIES OF THE METHANOLIC LEAF FRACTION OF CISSAMPELOS MUCRONATA

Fraction F1 containing alkaloids and sterols/triterpenes isolated from the methanolic leaf extract of Cissampelos mucronata A.Rich (Menispermaceae) was assayed for anti-ulcer activity using histamine- and stress-induced ulcer models. The fraction and crude methanolic extract (CME) were screened for anti-spasmodic activity using the spontaneously contracting smooth muscle of the rabbit jejunum. Their antimicrobial potency was assessed using different Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria as well as two species of fungi. The result indicate that the fraction and CME exhibited 63.25 % and 57.26 % inhibition of ulcer induced by histamine while 57.15 % and 47.14 % inhibition were recorded against stress-induced ulcer respectively. The inhibitions of ulcer induction were significant (P < 0.05) except for the CME against stress-induced ulcer. In addition, the fraction exhibited better antimicrobial property than the CME; however, none of them displayed fungistatic activity. Both the fraction and CME slightly inhibited the spontaneous pendular movement of the rabbit jejunum. The exact mechanism responsible for the anti-ulcer property of the fraction is not precisely known but the results indicate that inhibitions of various inciting stimuli in ulcer pathogenesis are involved. Key Words: Cissampelos mucronata, fraction, histamine, stress African Journal of Science and Technology Vol.5(1) 2004:109-11