title: Mechanisms of the protective effects of curcumin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that render it an attractive candidate for protection against gastric ulcer. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the protective effects of curcumin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gastric ulceration was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of indomethacin (30 mg/kg). Curcumin (50 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 30 min before ulcer induction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Curcumin showed gastroprotective effects as evidenced by significant decreases in ulcer index, total acid output and pepsin activity in gastric juice in addition to gastric mucosal malondialdehyde concentration, and concomitant increases in gastric juice mucin concentration, gastric mucosal nitric oxide level and catalase and superoxide dismutase activities as compared to the indomethacin-induced ulcer group. Moreover, immunohistochemical investigations demonstrated that curcumin treatment markedly decreased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, nuclear factor-κB, and caspase-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcumin protected the rats' gastric mucosa against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration possibly, at least in part, by enhancement of the gastric mucosal barrier and reduction in acid secretory parameters in addition to antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences/Pharmacology Division, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. momorsy@kfu.edu.sa
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Morsy
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El-Moselhy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007213:Indomethacin; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020011:Protective Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D003474:Curcumin; D007213:Indomethacin