title: Polymer fraction of Aloe vera exhibits a protective activity on ethanol-induced gastric lesions.
abstract: For centuries, Aloe has been used as a herbal plant remedy against skin disorders, diabetes, and for its cardiac stimulatory activity. Here, we examined the gastroprotective effects of an Aloe vera polymer fraction (Avpf; molecular weight cut-off ≥50 kDa; 150 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) on an ethanol-induced gastric lesion mouse model. Mice pre-treated with Avpf had significantly fewer gastric lesions than their respective controls. To further examine the potential mechanism underlying this effect, we used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to examine nitric oxide synthase and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)mRNA expression on tissues from gastric lesions. Our results revealed that the mRNA expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were each reduced by ~50% in Avpf-treated mice vs. the controls, whereas, the mRNA expression levels of endothelial nitric oxide synthase remained unchanged. MMP-9, an index for gastric lesions, also alleviated the ethanol-treated gastric ulceration during Avpf treatment. These findings collectively suggest that Avpf significantly protects the gastric mucosa against ethanol-induced gastric damage, at least in part, by decreasing mRNA expression levels of not only iNOS and nNOS, but also MMP-9.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chul-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong-Yoon
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Hyeong-U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Si-Rim
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyun-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin-Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Tae-Yang
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Jin-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Sang-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000504:Aloe / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011108:Polymers; D000431:Ethanol; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9