Nedi,Teshome(PhD)Firehun,Banchayehu2025-08-132025-08-132023-07https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/6748Peptic ulcer disease is the most common gastrointestinal tract disorder that mainly affects the stomach and proximal duodenum, and occurs when the protective and damaging factors are out of balance. Its therapy is challenging due to the rise of Helicobacter pylori resistance, adverse effects from current medications, and its complications. This calls for the development of effective and safe gastroprotective agents from alternative sources such as medicinal plants. Stephania abyssinica is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of gastritis in Ethiopia, but there is no scientific investigation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the gastroprotective activities of both aqueous and 80% methanol leaf extracts of Stephania abyssinica in experimental rats. Decoction and maceration techniques were used to prepare aqueous and 80% methanol leaf extracts, respectively. The extracts were evaluated against pyloric ligation, indomethacin, and ethanol-induced gastric ulcer models at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg. Negative control received 2% tween 80, while positive controls received 20 mg/kg of omeprazole and 100 μg/kg of misoprostol. In the pyloric ligation induced gastric ulcers, all doses of both extracts significantly reduced the ulcer index and gastric juice volume, while doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg exhibited a significant increase in mucus content and gastric juice pH as well as decrease in free and total acidity as compared to negative control. In indomethacin and ethanol induced gastric ulcers, pretreatment with both extracts significantly reduced the ulcer index and enhanced gastric mucin content in a dose dependent manner. Phytochemical screening of extracts showed the existence of flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, and coumarins with high contents of alkaloids, phenols, and flavonoids in methanol extract. The findings indicated that the leaves of Stephania abyssinica possessed remarkable gastroprotective activities against experimentally induced gastric ulcers. This possibly justify the traditional use of Stephania abyssinica leaves to treat gastritis.en-USPeptic ulcer diseaseStephania abyssinicagastroprotective activitypyloric ligation induced gastric ulcerindomethacin induced gastric ulcerethanol induced gastric ulcerThesis