title: Evaluation of antiulcerogenic potential of antioxidant α-tocopherol in pylorus-ligated albino rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oxidative free radicals and lipid peroxidation mediate gastric injury. α-Tocopherol is a redox agent with biological and antioxidant property, hence, may provide ulcer protection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pylorus-ligated Shay rats (n=6) were used as the experimental gastric ulcer animal model. The rats were divided into three groups. Group I received saline (5 mL/kg), Group II α-tocopherol (12.5 mg/kg), and Group III omeprazole (3.6 mg/kg), orally daily for 5 days prior to ulcerogenic challenge. Nineteen hours after the challenge, the rats were sacrificed and their stomachs isolated and studied for degree of gastric injury. Formed gastric juice was collected for measurement of volume, titrimetric estimation of free and total acidity, and total acid output by the conventional methods. The ulcer index and total acid outputs were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  α-Tocopherol exerted significant (p<0.05) antiulcer activity (the ulcer index was reduced to 7.4 ± 1.0 from the control value of 19.8 ± 4.1). α-Tocopherol also significantly reduced free and total acidity, gastric juice volume, and total acid output (p<0.01). The results were analyzed by ANOVA and Scheffe's multiple comparison test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrates that α-tocopherol has significant antiulcer activity. It, perhaps, acts by decreasing hydrochloric acid output.
authors.forename: Shobha V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Huilgol
authors.forename: V Hemanth
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011708:Pylorus; D051381:Rats; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D009853:Omeprazole