Protective effect of Matricaria chamomilla on ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury in rats

• Published in: Pharmaceutical biology Vol. 48; no. 7; p. 757
• Main Authors: Cemek, Mustafa, Yilmaz, Ezgi, Büyükokuroğlu, Mehmet Emin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-07-2010
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Ulcer Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Ulcer Agents - therapeutic use; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Ascorbic Acid - blood; beta Carotene - blood; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Ethanol; Glutathione - blood; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Male; Malondialdehyde - blood; Matricaria; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Stomach Ulcer - chemically induced; Stomach Ulcer - drug therapy; Vitamin A - blood
• ISSN: 1744-5116
• DOI: 10.3109/13880200903296147

The antiulcerogenic and antioxidant properties of Matricaria chamomilla L. (Compositae) hydroalcoholic extract (MCE) on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury were investigated in rats. After the induction of gastric mucosal injury, all groups were sacrificed; the gastric ulcer index was calculated, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in whole blood and gastric tissue, and serum ascorbic acid, retinol, and beta-carotene levels were measured in all groups. Pretreatment with MCE at some doses significantly reduced gastric lesions. Again, some doses of MCE significantly reduced the MDA, and significantly increased GSH levels in gastric tissue or whole blood. Serum beta-carotene and retinol levels were significantly higher in the 200 mg/kg MCE-administered group with respect to control. As a result, MCE clearly has a protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions, and this effect, at least in part, depends upon the reduction in lipid peroxidation and augmentation in antioxidant activity.