In Vivo Curative and Antacid Effects of Cameroonian Clay (MY41g) on Chronic and “Unhealed" Gastric Ulcers in Rats

This study evaluated the in vivo curative and antacid effects of MY41g clay on chronic and “unhealed" gastric ulcers in rats. Chronic gastric ulcers were induced by injecting 0.05 mL of acetic acid (30%) into the stomach wall. From day 5-14 after induction of ulcers, rats were treated daily with MY41g clay (125 and 250 mg/kg). For “Unhealed" gastric ulcers, from day 5-18 rats received MY41g clay orally concomitantly with indomethacin (1 mg/kg/day) subcutaneously. The ulcer index, percentage of healing, mucus secretion, histological parameters, oxidative stress parameters and gastric acidity were assessed. Treatment with clay solution for 10 days resulted in accelerated spontaneous healing of chronic gastric ulcers (83.69-90.2%). However, indomethacin administration did not induce significant variations in the percentage of healing (89.23-91.66%) in rats. For both ulcer models performed, ulcer healing was accompanied by a significant increase (p<0.001) of mucus secretion at the highest dose. Clay increased concentrations of antioxidant enzymes and decreased gastric acidity and lipid peroxidation. Administration of clay accelerated the spontaneous healing of both induction models. The mode of action of the clay could involve increased gastric mucus production, gastric mucosal re-epithelialization, improved antioxidant status and gastric acid neutralization. MY41g clay can be used as antacids in the ulcer treatment regime.