Cymbopogon citratus reaction on aluminium nitrate induced stomach damage in adult female Wistar rat

Abstract

Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (Poaceae family) is grown around the world and has a century-long record of extensive therapeutic applications in traditional medicine in a number of countries. It is used in herbal medicine as antibacterial, antifungal and anti-carcinogenic agent due to its antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of C. citratus leaf on the stomach of Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). A total of twenty female Wistar rats of average weight
of 200g were randomly selected into five groups (A to E) with four rats in each group. Group A served as control group fed with rat feed and water ad libitum. Group B received 200mg/kg of aqueous extract of C. citratus for two weeks. Group C received 400mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of C. citratus for two weeks. Group D received 100mg/kg body weight of aluminium nitrate orally while Group E received both 100mg/kg body weight of aluminium nitrate and 200mg/kg body weight of
aqueous extract of C. citratus concurrently for two weeks. The animals were sacrificed using cervical dislocation. The animals were weighed on weekly basis and the results were analyzed using One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Histological findings revealed that administration of aluminium nitrate resulted in changes in cyto-architecture of the stomach. However, co-administration of aluminium nitrate and aqueous extract of C. citratus improved the stomach cytoarchitecture. The changes observed in the body weight were not significant at p value<0.05. This study showed that the aqueous extract of C. citratus has ameliorative effect on aluminium nitrate induced stomach damage.