Gastroprotective and Anti–Helicobacter pylori Efficacy of a Polyherbal Formulation of Musa paradisiaca, Curcuma longa, Brassica oleracea, and Zingiber officinale in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Unripe plantain (Musa paradisiaca), turmeric (Curcuma longa), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), and ginger (Zingiber officinale) are widely used in West African traditional medicine for gastrointestinal ailments, but their combined efficacy against Helicobacter pylori and gastric ulcers has not been systematically evaluated. The major aim of this research is to evaluate the in vivo gastroprotective and anti–H. pylori efficacy of hydroethanolic extracts of these four plants, individually and in combination, using Wistar rat models. Acute toxicity was assessed using Lorke's method (up to 5000 mg/kg). Anti–H. pylori efficacy was evaluated in an infection model (seven groups, n=3) with oral treatment for 7 days, measuring gastric bacterial load (log10 CFU) on Days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Gastroprotective activity was assessed in indomethacin-induced ulcer models (prophylactic and curative), with ulcer index, percentage inhibition, and gastric secretory parameters (total acidity, free acidity, pepsin activity) determined. Histopathological analysis of gastric tissues was performed. All extracts were safe up to 5000 mg/kg with no mortality. The combined formulation (U.P+T+C+G) achieved complete H. pylori clearance (0.000 log10 CFU) by Day 7, with the fastest reduction (3.380 by Day 3). Ginger and unripe plantain also achieved complete clearance by Day 7. Cabbage showed incomplete clearance (2.204 log10 CFU at Day 7). In the prophylactic ulcer test, the combined extract achieved the highest inhibition (91.38%), surpassing cimetidine (86.21%). In the curative test, unripe plantain (94.51%) and cabbage (94.59%) showed efficacy comparable to cimetidine (94.61%), while the combination achieved 94.33% with the lowest ulcer index (0.32 ± 0.11). Histopathology revealed near complete mucosal restoration in combined-extract-treated groups. The polyherbal formulation demonstrated significant gastroprotective and anti–H. pylori efficacy, with synergistic interactions enhancing both mucosal healing and bacterial clearance. These findings support the traditional use of these plants and warrant further clinical evaluation.