‘‘Potential protective effects of the Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract on alcohol-induced gastric ulcer in rats‘‘

Abstract

Grape seed proanocyanidine extract (GSPE), a natural flavonoid, possesses multiple biological effects, such as antioxidant, anti- inflammatory and angiogenic effects. In this study, the protective effect of GSPE pretreatment against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer was clarified and the results were compared to omeprazole as a standard reference drug widely used for gastric ulcer. A preliminary screening for the gastroprotective dose of GSPE was conducted where rats were divided randomly into 6 groups 6 animas for each and treated as follows; Group I (Control group) normal rats received oral normal saline. Group II received a single intragastric dose of absolute alcohol (5ml/kg) Group III received a single intragastric dose of alcohol + omeprazole dose (40 mg/kg) 1h before ulcer induction. Group IV, V, VI received a single intragastric dose of alcohol + oral GSPE at doses of (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg/day), respectively for 6 days and the last dose of GSPE was administered 1 h before ulcer induction. Rats were sacrificed 1h after ethanol dose and their stomach was surgically removed, opened along the greater curvature. Stomachs were blotted dry, macroscopically inspected for gross gastric injury (expressed as ulcer index) and photographed for later determination of the area of gastric lesions. Then, each stomach was dichotomized, one moiety was immersed in 10% buffered formol saline for histopathologic and immunohistochemical assessment, and depending on the results obtained from dose response study only one effective dose of GSPE have positive effect for gastric ulcer protection were selected