Abstract
Background: Gastric ulcers are a common gastrointestinal disorder for which there is a need to search for a better prevention method or treatment options. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the protective effect of a combination of Psidium guajava and Aloe vera extracts against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats.
Methods: The gastric ulcer was induced in rats using one oral dose of absolute ethanol (5 mL/kg body weight (b.w)). A combination of P. guajava and A. vera at doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w and omeprazole 20 mg/kg b.w were given by gavage daily for 21 days before the induction of ulcers. The stomachs of rats were analyzed both macroscopically and biochemically 24 hours following ethanol administration.
Results: Pretreatment of rats with the combination of P. guajava and A. vera extracts significantly (P<0.05) reduced the ulcer index induced by ethanol. Also, administration of the plant extracts reduced stomach content of malondialdehyde, and enhanced stomach antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) activities as well as glutathione content in ethanol-intoxicated rats. Furthermore, the plant extract significantly (P<0.05) decreased the stomach level of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, INF-δ, IL-1β and IL-6. The efficacy of the combination of plant extracts at 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w was comparable to that of Omeprazole.
Conclusion: Overall, findings from this study revealed that the combination of P. guajava and A. vera aqueous extracts displayed a gastro-protective effect on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer, likely through the suppression of oxidative stress and gastric inflammation.
Keywords: Psidium guajava; Aloe vera; gastric ulcer; oxidative stress; antioxidants; anti-inflammatory.
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