EFFECTS OF SHEA BUTTER (VITELLERIA PARADOXA) ON GASTRIC STRUCTURAL HEALING IN ETHANOL-INDUCED GASTRIC ULCER IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Gastric ulcers, a common gastrointestinal disorder, result from the breakdown of the gastric mucosal barrier, often induced by factors such as ethanol consumption. Shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) known for its anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerative properties, has been explored as a natural remedy for gastric healing. This study investigated the effects of shea butter on gastric structural healing in ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in male wistar rats. Forty-eight (48) male albino rats weighing 200-250g were used which was further randomized into six groups, group one (control), group two (gastric ulcer group), group three (shea butter group without gastric ulcer), group four (gastric ulcer + shea butter treatment from one- hour post ulcer induction) group five (gastric ulcer + shea butter treatment from24-hour post-ulcer induction) and group six (ulcer + shea butter treatment from48-hour post-ulcer induction). Ulcer was induced with 5mg/kg of 96% of ethanol whereby shea butter was administered with dosage of 400mg/kg from1hour, 24 hours and 48 hours post ulcer induction for 7 days respectively, the animals were then sacrificed using cervical dislocation and the stomach was removed, the macroscopic pictures were taken to assess the extent of mucosa damage due to the ulcer induced macroscopically, the excised stomach tissue were then preserved in 10% formalin to examine histopathology changes with H and E staining. The results were analyzed using graph pad prism 5 via one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), follow by turkey post hoc test. The results were expressed as the mean value ± standard error of mean (Mean±SEM). A significance level of p< 0.05 was considered for all tests. Macroscopic examination revealed a normal mucosa in the control group, severe ulceration in the ulcer group, and complete mucosal healing in the 48-hour treatment group. Rats treated from one-hour post-ulcer induction exhibited inflammation with mild bleeding, while those treated 24 hours’post-induction showed persistent inflammation without bleeding. Histopathological analysis supported these findings, showing intact gastric architecture in the control and 48-hour treated groups, while ulceration and inflammation were prominent in the ulcer and early treatment groups. The results demonstrate that shea butter treatment from 48 hours’ post-ulcer induction enhances gastric mucosal healing better by reducing inflammation and promoting tissue regeneration. This study suggests that shea butter may be a promising natural therapy for gastric ulcer healing.