title: Gastroprotective and ulcer-healing mechanisms of ellagic acid in experimental rats.
abstract: Ellagic acid (EA), a plant-derived polyphenol, exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gastroprotective effects. Its gastroprotective mechanisms have not been fully elucidated nor have its effects on chronic ulcer previously been described. Toward these ends, the antiulcer activities of EA were evaluated in acute (ethanol and indomethacin) and chronic (acetic acid) ulcer models in Wistar rats. In this study, oral administration of EA significantly prevented the gastric ulceration caused by ethanol, indomethacin, and acetic acid treatments. Its gastroprotective mechanism in ethanol-induced ulcer were partly due to intensification in the endogenous production of nitric oxide, an antioxidant effect by replenishing depletion of endogenous nonprotein sulfhydryls and attenuation of tumor necrosis factor-α increase, whereas in indomethacin ulcer, it is partly due to a reduction in the plasma level of leukotriene B(4). In acetic acid ulcer, promotion of ulcer-healing effects was partly due to attenuation of the elevated levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, interferon-γ, and interleukins-4 and -6. These findings suggest that ellagic acid exerts its antiulcer activity by strengthening the defensive factors and attenuating the offensive factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Coxipó, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela Marcia Selhorst E Silva
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Beserra
authors.forename: Pedro Ivo
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Calegari
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Rogerio Alexandre Nunes
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Joaquim Corsino da Silva
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Regilane Matos
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Sikiru Olaitan
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Balogun
authors.forename: Domingos Tabajara de Oliveira
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000032:analysis; D004610:Ellagic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry; D007213:Indomethacin; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009093:Mucus / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004610:Ellagic Acid; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D000431:Ethanol; D015232:Dinoprostone; D019342:Acetic Acid; D007213:Indomethacin