Evaluation of the Anti-ulcer Effect of Extra Virgin Avocado (Persea americana) Oil in Rats

Abstract

Peptic ulcer disease is a gastrointestinal disorder of high mortality and morbidity. Therapy of this disease condition with conventional drugs presents therapeutic challenge due to incidents of unwanted side effects, and the high cost of these medications. The use of products from natural sources will provide useful alternatives due to their minimal side effects, being inexpensive, and readily available, especially in resource-challenged nations of the continent of Africa and other developing economies. Oils derived from plants are increasingly being used in management of several disease conditions. This study aims at evaluating the antiulcer activity of extra virgin avocado oil in rodents using ethanol-induced, and indomethacin-induced ulcer models. Test group was given extra virgin avocado oil (1ml per 250g weight) for 7 days before induction of ulcer. Positive controls received omeprazole 30 mg/kg, while negative control animals were given distilled water (10ml/kg) for 7 days respectively, before induction of ulcer. The stomachs were excised and their histopathological examinations carried out. Avocado oil significantly reduced the ulcer index in both models when compared to the negative control group, and histopathological findings corroborate that the oil ameliorates ulcerations in both models. The present study has demonstrated that extra virgin avocado oil possesses significant antiulcer activity.