Preliminary Evaluation of Antiulcerogenic Activity of Ceiba pentandra Gaertn and Helicrysum mechowianum Klatt in Rats

The aqueous extracts of Ceiba pentandra and Helicrysum mechowianum were evaluated for their antiulcerogenic effects by using indometacin-induced gastric lesions in rats. The both aqueous extracts are well tolerated by animals. Until the dose of 3200 mg kg-1 per os, no mortality was observed. At the dose of 400 mg kg-1 per os, the two preparations (as the reference substance, ranitidine 50 mg kg-1) reduced significantly the decrease of pH and the formation of lesions induced by indometacin, compared to control group. These results which could support the folk use of these plants in Congo required further investigations for their confirmation.