Anti-Gastric Ulcerative Activity of Ocimum gratissimum in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Aim: It has been observed that Diabetes Mellitus (DM) cause altered acid secretion and increased rate of ulceration. Ocimum gratissimum (OG) have been reported to possess hypoglycemic properties. This study therefore set out to determine the effect of DM on ulcerogenic indices and how OG could ameliorate them.
Methodology: The phytoconstituents and median lethal dose of the plant extract was determined before administration. Eighteen rats were used; the animals were divided into three groups of six rats each. Group 1 was the control and were given normal feed only. Group 2 was diabetic untreated rats (DM) while group 3 was OG treated diabetic rats (DMT). All the groups had access to water ad libitum. After 28 days, the gastric acid output, mucus secretion rate and ulcer scores were determined.
Results: The result showed that the basal acid output in the DM group was significantly higher than control. The peak acid output in the DMT was significantly lower (P=.001) when compared with control and DM. The mean mucus secretion was significantly (p=.001) lower in the DM and DMT compared with control. The mucus secretion in DMT was significantly (p=.001) higher compared with DM. The mean ulcer score was significantly higher in DM than in control (p =.01) and significantly higher in DMT than in control (P =.01) but significantly lower than in DM group (P =.01).
Conclusion: We therefore conclude that OG mitigate ulcerogenic activities in STZ - induced diabetic rats by reducing gastric acid secretion and increasing mucus secretion.