In-vitro Antacid Properties of Cameroonian Clay (MY41g) and its Potential Use in Anti-ulcer Triple Therapy Regimen Formulated with Eremomastax speciosa Extract

Aims: The antisecretory, antibacterial on Helicobacter, and antacid properties of Eremomastax speciosa (E. speciosa) and MY41g clay respectively, led us to evaluate the potential use of this clay in the anti-ulcer tri-therapy formulated with Eremomastax speciosa.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Animal Biology & Physiology (Animal Physiology Laboratory), Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, between August 2020 and February 2021.

Materials and Methods: In vitro antacid were evaluated by studying: Fordtran's method, and the influence of temperature on the pH values. In vivo activity was studied on chronic gastric ulcers induced by injection of 0.05 ml of acetic acid (30%) into the stomach wall. Rats were treated daily for 10 days after ulcer induction with a combination of E. speciosa and MY41g (ESMY) ; (ESMY 100+250 and 200+250 mg/kg). The model of "unhealed" gastric ulcers was also used: from day 5 to day 18 of experimentation, rats were given ESMY orally concomitantly with indomethacin (1 mg/kg/day) subcutaneously. Ulcer index, percentage of healing, mucus secretion, gastric acidity, histological, hematological, and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated.

Results: ESMY showed good neutralizing capacity in vitro in Fordtran’s method. Treatment with ESMY accelerated the spontaneous healing of chronic gastric ulcers (93.82-96.14%). However, administration of indomethacin did not induce significant variations in the percentage of healing (90.73-94.60%). For both ulcer models performed, ulcer healing was accompanied by a significant (P = 0.001) increase in mucus mass at 200/250 mg/kg. ESMY increased antioxidant activity, decreased gastric acidity, lipid peroxidation, and maintained hematological balance.

Conclusion: In addition to its buffering properties, the healing mechanism of ESMY includes reduced gastric acidity, enhanced mucus production, re-epithelialization of gastric mucosa, improvement of hematological and antioxidant status. ESMY can be used in traditional medicine, as a therapeutic regimen against gastric ulcers.