Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Acycor-plus (ACY) is a single dose combined analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug. Prolonged usage and overdose often lead to gastro-intestinal ulcerations, inflammations and oxidative stress which increases the use of synthetic H2 antagonists such as cimetidine (CMT). Aims: This study was carried out to monitor the antioxidant and inflammatory effects of ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia (MC) in ACY-administered male Balb/c mice. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five mice weighing between 15-20g were equally divided into five groups and received normal saline (Control), 2.5mg/kg ACY alone (ACY), ACY combined with either 50mg/kg cimetidine (CMT) or 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia (MC100 and MC200, respectively). The animals were sacrificed after three days by cervical dislocation and post-mitochondrial fractions of their livers, kidneys, small intestines and colons were used to assess the activities of antioxidant and inflammatory markers. Results: MC100 and MC200 significantly reduced antioxidant markers except catalase (CAT) when compared with ACY while they increased hepatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) and nitric oxide (NO) (p<0.05). Kidney and colonic MPO activities were significantly reduced by MC100. However, MC200 significantly increased renal CAT, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and SOD/(GPx+CAT) ratio with increased oxidative stress. Conclusion: It can be concluded that MC100 had comparable effect with CMT while MC200 might induce renal toxicity. However, further research is needed using other routes of administration.

Keywords: Ulceration, Inflammations, Oxidative stress, and Momordica charantia