title: Possible biochemical effects following inhibition of ethanol-induced gastric mucosa damage by Gymnema sylvestre in male Wistar albino rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gymnema sylvestre (GS) R. Br. (Gymnema) (Asclepiadaceae) has been used from ancient times as a folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes, obesity, urinary disorder, and stomach stimulation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to investigate the effects of G. sylvestre leaves ethanol extract on gastric mucosal injury in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gastric mucosal damage was induced by 80% ethanol in 36 h fasted rats. The effect of G. sylvestre on gastric secretions induced in Shay rats was estimated. In stomach, wall mucus, non-protein sulfhydryl groups (NP-SH), malondialdehyde (MDA), total proteins and nucleic acids levels were estimated. Histopathological changes were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  G. sylvestre pretreatment at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg provided 27, 49, and 63% protection against the ulcerogenic effect of ethanol, respectively. Pylorus ligation accumulated 10.24 mL gastric secretions with 66.56 mEq of acidity in control rats. Pretreatment with G. sylvestre significantly inhibited the secretions volume and acidity in dose-dependent manner. Ethanol caused significant depletion in stomach-wall mucus (p < 0.001), total proteins (p < 0.01), nucleic acids (p < 0.001), and NP-SH (p < 0.001) levels. Pretreatment with G. sylvestre showed protection against these depleted levels in dose-dependent manner. The MDA levels increased from 19.02 to 29.22 nmol/g by ethanol ingestion and decreased with G. sylvestre pretreatments in dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protective effect of G. sylvestre observed in the present study is attributed to its effect on mucus production, increase in nucleic acid and NP-SH levels, which appears to be mediated through its free radical scavenging ability and/or possible cytoprotective properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 55760, Riyadh 11544, Saudi Arabia. rejaie@ksu.edu.sa
authors.forename: Salim S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Al-Rejaie
authors.forename: Hatem M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Abuohashish
authors.forename: Mohammed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Abdulaziz M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Aleisa
authors.forename: Osama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alkhamees
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D031104:Gymnema sylvestre / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D000431:Ethanol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA