Anti-Oxidant Activity of Carica Papaya Seed Extracts on Indomethacin-Induced Ulcer in Rats

The seed of Carica papaya has been traditionally used for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease and other ailments. The Anti-oxidant Activity of Carica papaya seed Extracts on Indomethacin-induced Ulcer in Rat was investigated to validate this claim. The qualitative phytochemical screening of the aqueous Carica papaya seed extract showed the presence of tanins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones and steroids. Quantitatively, Phenols and flavonoids (20.80 % and 20.40 %) were found to be the highest in the phytochemicals while anthraquinones and saponins (5.80 % and 6.40 %) were the least in content. The study was conducted on fifty-five (55) young albino rats weighing between 120-150g were grouped into eleven (11) of five (5) each. Peptic ulcer was induced in all the rats using indomethacin at 50mg/kg/bw single dose and the level of total endogenous anti-oxidants were significantly (pgreater than0.05) reduced when normal groups (73.30 0.92) was compared with the induced group (27.42 0.85). The rats were treated with varied concentrations of both aqueous and ethanolic seed extracts at 100, 150, 300 and 450mg/kg/bw. Oral administration of aqueous extract (100mg/kg/bw) of the seed significantly (pgreater than0.05) increased the total anti-oxidant levels to (86.28 3.82) in the treated animals. Treatment was able to prevent reduction in the levels of anti-oxidant caused by indomethacin. Treatment using the extract also significantly (pgreater than0.05) boosted total protein concentration level (80.08 0.80) when compared to the negative control (56.94 3.29). This study showed anti-ulcer activity of Carica papaya seed extracts by improving the anti-oxidant activity.