title: The protective effect of guar gum against stress-induced gastric ulcers in the rat.
abstract: After the methodology had been studied and pilot studies conducted, nine groups of rats (10 rats per group) were fed solutions of different compositions via orogastric tube during induction of stress ulcers by resistant and a cold ambient temperature. The first group was a control group and received no feeding. Group 2 rats received distilled water, group 3 rats guar gum in distilled water, group 4 rats wheat flour (placebo) in distilled water, group 5 rats a 10% solution of glucose in distilled water, group 6 rats guar gum in the 10% glucose solution, group 7 rats wheat flour in the 10% glucose solution, group 8 rats a 30% glucose solution and group 9 rats cimetidine, intraperitoneally. Cimetidine provided the best protection against stress-induced ulcers. Guar gum in distilled water was almost as effective as cimetidine. Slightly fewer rats (30%) exhibited ulcers in the guar gum group than in the cimetidine group (40%). However, the ulcers in the guar gum group were larger than those in the cimetidine groups. The percentage of rats with ulcers and the percentage of the largest category of ulcers decreased as the energy content of the solutions changed from 10% to 30% glucose and from the control percentages. The protective effect of guar gum in distilled water was reduced when it was infused in a 10% glucose solution. In the latter solution, the effect of guar gum was similar to that in the rats given wheat flour (placebo) in a 10% glucose solution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harju
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sajanti
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005685:Galactans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008351:Mannans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053149:Plant Gums; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D005685:Galactans; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; D002927:Cimetidine; C007894:guar gum