title: Carotenoid lutein protects rats from gastric ulcer induced by ethanol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carotenoid lutein was evaluated for antiulcerogenic activity in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gastric ulcer was induced in fasted rats by oral administration of ethanol (95%) (5 mL/kg body weight). Lutein (100 and 250 mg/kg body weight) was administered everyday for 5 days prior to alcohol administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ulcer index which is a measure of the severity of ulcers was found to be reduced in lutein-treated groups. Morphological and histopathological examination supported the protection of lutein during alcohol-induced damage in rat stomach. Antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase as well as glutathione levels, which were found to be reduced in the gastric mucosa of alcohol-treated groups, were found to be elevated after lutein treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mechanism of antiulcer activity may be due to the inhibition of oxidative stress produced by alcohol by lutein administration. These findings suggest the potential therapeutic use of lutein as an effective antiulcer agent.
authors.affiliation: Amala Cancer Research Center, Kerala, India. amalacancerresearch@gmail.com
authors.forename: Edakkadath R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Sindhu
authors.forename: Ramadasan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuttan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D014975:Lutein / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D004798:Enzymes; D000431:Ethanol; D005978:Glutathione; D014975:Lutein