Campus News

UNILORIN dons publish landmark study on plant-based ulcer therapy

By Mustafa Abubakar

Two lecturers at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Prof. Mikhail Olugbemiro Nafiu and Dr Rukayat A. Oyegoke, have co-authored a pioneering research paper, which provides robust scientific validation for the ulcer-healing potentials of Cochlospermum planchonii, a medicinal plant long used in Nigerian traditional medicine.

Speaking with UNILORIN Bulletin last Tuesday (August 12, 2025), Prof. Nafiu said the study proposes a polyphenol-rich extract from Cochlospermum planchonii roots as a safe, affordable plant-based treatment for stomach ulcers.

According to Prof. Nafiu, “This is a scientific endorsement of what traditional healers have known for generations. Our findings show that the polyphenol-rich extract significantly raises gastric pH, reduces total acidity, and protects the stomach lining by enhancing nitric oxide levels. Even at high doses, the extract caused no signs of toxicity, making it safe for long-term use.”

The study, titled “Anti-Ulcerogenic and Toxicological Evaluation of Polyphenol-Rich Extract of Cochlospermum planchonii Roots in Aspirin-Induced Ulcerogenic Rats”, was published in the AlQalam Journal of Medical and Applied Sciences in April 2024 and is freely accessible under a Creative Commons license, ensuring global reach.

Prof. Nafiu, an expert in Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, noted that peptic ulcers remain a public health burden, with conventional drugs often costly and linked to side effects. “Cochlospermum planchonii, traditionally prepared as a decoction for ulcer relief, had not been thoroughly investigated using modern biomedical tools,” he said.

According  to him, the study, Wistar rats were divided into groups receiving control treatment, omeprazole at 20 mg/kg body weight, or the polyphenol-rich extract at doses of 50, 100, or 150 mg/kg. Ulcers were induced using aspirin, a common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug known for damaging the gastric mucosa.

“The histological evidence was particularly striking. The gastric tissues of treated groups showed remarkable mucosal healing, with the highest dose producing results comparable to omeprazole. This gives us confidence in its potential for clinical application”, he revealed.

He said that the extract raised gastric pH to as high as 6.5 in the high-dose group compared with 2.1 in the ulcer control group, reduced gastric juice volume, and lowered pepsinogen concentration, thereby reducing the stomach’s erosive potential. Liver and kidney function markers, including bilirubin, creatinine, and enzyme levels, remained stable, indicating no organ toxicity.

“The study will also be extended to other ulcer-causing factors such as ethanol and particularly Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium linked to peptic ulcer and other stomach infections. This expanded focus will attract multidisciplinary expertise, opening doors for broader collaborative research,” he concluded.