Background: Gastric ulcer disease remains a significant global health burden despite advances in pharmacotherapy. Crotalaria pallida Aiton (Fabaceae), traditionally employed in ethnomedical practice for gastrointestinal ailments, has not been systematically evaluated for gastroprotective efficacy against experimental ulceration models.

Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract (70% ethanol) of C. pallida leaves was prepared with a yield of 22% w/w. Acute toxicity was assessed following OECD 423 guidelines. In compliance with ARRIVE 2.0 guidelines, male Wistar rats (150–200 g, n = 6 per group) were randomized and assigned numerical identifiers for blinded assessment. Gastroprotective activity was evaluated using ethanol-induced (80% v/v, 1 mL, p.o.) and aspirin-induced (200 mg/kg, p.o.) ulcer models. Treatment groups received C. pallida extract (200 or 400 mg/kg, p.o.) or ranitidine (50 mg/kg, p.o., positive control) 2–4 hours prior to ulcerogen administration. Primary outcomes included ulcer index, gastric pH, and acid volume. Statistical analysis employed one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post-hoc test (p< 0.05).

Results: Phytochemical screening revealed alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and phytosterols. Acute toxicity studies demonstrated safety up to 2000 mg/kg with zero mortality. In the ethanol model, C. pallida 400 mg/kg exhibited a statistically significant reduction in ulcer index (2.25 ± 0.30 vs. 5.35 ± 0.70 in ulcer control, p< 0.01) with 57.94% inhibition and dose-dependent gastric pH elevation (3.92 ± 0.10 vs. 2.15 ± 0.08, p< 0.01), approaching ranitidine efficacy (68.22% inhibition, pH 4.90 ± 0.15). The aspirin model yielded comparable dose-dependent protection: 400 mg/kg reduced ulcer index by 52.31% (5.15 ± 0.11 vs. 10.80 ± 0.30, p< 0.01) and normalized gastric pH (3.98 ± 0.04 vs. 2.00 ± 0.06, p< 0.01). Macroscopic examination confirmed mucosal integrity preservation with minimal hemorrhagic lesions in treated groups versus extensive erosions in controls.

Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic extract of C. pallida leaves demonstrates potent, dose-dependent gastroprotection against chemical ulcerogens with efficacy comparable to H₂-receptor antagonists. The mechanism likely involves synergistic antioxidant, antisecretory, and cytoprotective actions mediated by flavonoid-tannin complexes. These findings provide robust preclinical evidence supporting traditional use and warrant further mechanistic and clinical investigation.

KEYWORDS: Crotalaria Pallida, Gastroprotection, Ethanol-induced Ulcer, Aspirin-induced Ulcer, F=lavonoids, cytoprotection, ARRIVE 2.0