Microanatomical evaluation of flavonoid-rich fraction of Musa paradisiaca in Aspirin-induced gastric lesion

Aim: This study investigated the healing effects of a flavonoid-rich fraction of Musa paradisiaca (MP) fruit on the histomorphology and histomorphometry of the gastric corpus in Wistar rats following aspirin-induced gastric lesion. This was with a view to providing information on the alternative therapies of treating gastric ulcers using unripe fruits of MP. Materials and Methods: Ninety adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups of 15 rats each. Aspirin at a dose of 400 mg/kg was dissolved in distilled water and administered as a single oral dose to induce gastric lesions in the test groups of rats. After 24 h, flavonoid fraction of MP was administered to groups C, D, and E at graded doses for 21 days, whereas group F rats received omeprazole at 1.8 mg/kg. On days 14, 21, and 28, five rats from each group were sacrificed. The pH value of the gastric contents was determined, gastric tissues were processed using paraffin wax embedding method; sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Alcian blue/PAS. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Histomorphological and histomorphometric studies showed a restorative effect of flavonoid fraction of MP in all the treated groups of rats as there was a significant (P = 0.0001) (P = 0.0001) increase in the total mucosal and glandular mucosal layers when compared with the test control. There was a progressive and dose-dependent improvement in staining for mucus-secreting cells in the treated groups as well as a significant (P = 0.0001) increase in a number of cells in the treatment groups when compared with the control. Conclusion: MP attenuated the deleterious effects of aspirin on the stomach by strengthening mucosa defensive factors.