Anti-ulcer and Analgesic Activities of the Leaves of Capparis sepiaria L. and Maerua angolensis DC. (Capparidaceae)

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Résumé

The leaves of Capparis sepiaria and Maerua angolensis are consumed by some populations in Burkina Faso and are traditionally associated with gastrointestinal uses. This study evaluated the anti-ulcer and analgesic activities of aqueous leaf extracts of both plants in mice. Gastroprotective activity was assessed using ethanol-induced gastric ulcer models under acute and chronic conditions, while analgesic activity was evaluated using acetic acid-induced abdominal contortions. In the acute model, Capparis sepiaria extract at 500 mg/kg produced 92% protection of the gastric mucosa, compared with 96% for sucralfate. The ulcer index decreased from 10 at 300 mg/kg to 4.83 at 500 mg/kg for Capparis sepiaria. In the chronic model, the ulcer index decreased from 0.83 in the ulcer control to 0.08 with selected extract treatments, and extracts of both plants showed a better healing of ulcer lesions at all tested doses after seven days of treatment. Analgesic activity increased with dose. At 500 mg/kg, Maerua angolensis produced 75% inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal contortions, equal to the inhibition observed with paracetamol at 100 mg/kg. These findings indicate that the leaf extracts exhibited gastroprotective, ulcer-healing, and analgesic activities under the experimental conditions used. They provide a scientific basis for further evaluation of these plants for the development of improved traditional medicines or nutraceutical applications for gastrointestinal disorders.

Mots-clés

Capparis sepiaria, Maerua angolensis, ulcer, pain, ulcer healing, analgesic activity, gastric mucosa