Aloe Vera Heals Gastric Ulcer in 7 Days than Omeprazole and Cimetidine : Prostaglandin?

Peptic ulcer disease is becoming a very common disease as it is associated with lifestyle e.g eating habits more than infection, by bacteria, H. pylori [1]. There are many treatments for the disease which are not very potent for the eradication of the disease. A comparative study was therefore carried out with Aloe Vera, cimetidine and omeprazole to arrive at the most potent treatment drug. A total of thirty (30) male and female rats were used for the study. The Aloe Vera extract with LD50 of 1870.83 mg/kg was administered in three dosages; low, medial and high, 187.08 mg/kg, 374.42 mg/kg and 561.25 mg/kg respectively in groups (3-4) while cimetidine and omeprazole in groups V and VI respectively for 28 days. Gastric HCl increased significantly p 0.01 in groups 2, 4 and 6. Aloe Vera showed more potent healing than omeprazole and Cimetidine as there were no traces of ulceration observed in the stomach of the rats as early as 7 days of the observation treatment. However, the acid output in the Aloe Vera treated groups were not significantly reduced p>0.01 as compared to Cimetidine and omeprazole groups. But the ulceration was significantly eliminated than in the cimetidine and omeprazole treated groups. It is concluded that Aloe Vera probably acts through prostaglandin increase in its ingredient for the healing of the ulcer.