title: Augmenting Effect of DA-9601 on Ghrelin in an Acute Gastric Injury Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute gastric injury by alcohol or indomethacin has been reported to be prevented by DA-9601, an extract of the herb Artemisia asiatica. Ghrelin, an endogenously produced gastrointestinal peptide hormone, has also been demonstrated to play a role in gastric mucosal defense. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DA-9601 on ghrelin in an acute gastric injury model induced by alcohol or indomethacin.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 140 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups, a placebo group and a DA-9601-pretreated group. Thirty minutes later, half of the rats in each group received ethanol injury and the other half received indomethacin injury. Levels of serum ghrelin and gastric mucosal ghrelin mRNA were measured by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immediately after ethanol administration, ghrelin increased in both groups pretreated with DA-9601 and placebo. However, the increase occurred more rapidly and was higher in the DA-9601-pretreated rats than in the controls that did not receive DA-9601-pretreatment. Similarly, from 30 minutes to 2 hours after indomethacin administration, the DA-9601-pretreated rats showed a significant increase in serum and gastric mucosal ghrelin concentrations, whereas placebo-pretreated rats showed only a mild increase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DA-9601 potentiates the endogenous production and secretion of ghrelin in acute gastric injury models induced by ethanol or indomethacin.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yoo Hum
authors: YH
authors: Baek
authors: Kang Nyeong
authors: KN
authors: Lee
authors: Dae Won
authors: DW
authors: Jun
authors: Byung Chul
authors: BC
authors: Yoon
authors: Ju Mi
authors: JM
authors: Kim
authors: Tae Young
authors: TY
authors: Oh
authors: Oh Young
authors: OY
authors: Lee