title: Ginger extract and polaprezinc exert gastroprotective actions by anti-oxidant and growth factor modulating effects in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Contemporary medications used in the treatment of gastric ulcers involve the use of novel mucosal protective drugs. The present study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective effect of ginger extract and polaprezinc in a rat model of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer.
  
  
  METHODS
  'Kissing' ulcers were induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by using 60% acetic acid. Rhizoma Zingiber officinale (ginger) extract (1.5-5 g/kg) or polaprezinc (30 and 60 mg/kg) was orally given to the animals once daily for three consecutive days after ulcer induction. All animals were killed on day 5 by an overdose of ketamine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both ginger extract and polaprezinc significantly reduce the gastric ulcer area in a dose-dependent manner, with concomitant attenuation of the elevated activities of xanthine oxidase and myeloperoxidase, as well as malondialdehyde level in the ulcerated mucosa. Nevertheless, only polaprezinc could restore the mucosal glutathione level. Polaprezinc also causes the overexpression of basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and ornithine decarboxylase, whereas ginger extract only increases the expression of the two growth factors in the gastric mucosa. Furthermore, polaprezinc could consistently downregulate the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-1β, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-2α that have been activated in the ulcerated tissues, whereas ginger extract mainly inhibits the expression of the chemokines and to some extent TNF-α.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ginger extract and polaprezinc both show anti-oxidation that consequently alleviates gastric mucosal damage and promotes ulcer healing, which together serve as effective mucosal protective agents.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer and Inflammation Research, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China. jksko@hkbu.edu.hk
authors.forename: Joshua K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Catherine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002336:Carnosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018925:Chemokines / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020939:Zingiber officinale; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C061957:polaprezinc; D002336:Carnosine; D019342:Acetic Acid