This study was designed to examine possible antiulcerogenic activity of methanolic extract of
Tetracera potatoria
(MeTp) and betulinic acid isolated from it. Results showed that various doses of the extract (100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight) significantly reduced experimentally induced gastric ulceration in pretreated animals in a dose-dependent fashion. Similarly, animals pretreated with 1 (0.2 and 2.0 mg/kg body weight) had significant reduction in mean ulcer indices recorded (p<0.05). The two doses of betulinic acid also significantly reduced basal gastric acid secretion in the animals (p<0.05). Although no significant changes were observed in gastric acid secretion with the low doses of 0.02 and 0.2 mg/kg body weight of the extract, there was however significant reduction in gastric acid secretion with animals treated with 2.0 mg/kg body weight extract(P < 0..05). These results suggest that decreases in mean ulcer indices in response to the extract and betulinic acid appear to be dependent on the inhibition of gastric acid secretion.
