GASTRIC ANTIULCER AND ULCER HEALING EFFECTS OF PUNICA GRANATUM L. PEEL EXTRACT IN RATS: ROLE OF OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE MUCOSAL FACTORS AND OXIDATIVE STRESS

Objective: The present work incorporates the study of gastric antiulcer and ulcer healing effects of dried Punica granatum (PG) peel 50% ethanol extract (PGE) in rats.Methods: PGE (100 mg/kg) was administered orally once daily to rats either before or after induction of gastric ulcers (GU) for 7 d. Antiulcer effects of PGE were seen against acute GU, induced by pylorus ligation (PL), cold restraint stress (CRS), aspirin and ethanol while, ulcer healing in acetic acid (AA)-induced chronic GU in rats. Ulcer index (UI), gastric juice volume, acid-pepsin and mucin secretions and gastric mucosal glycoproteins, free radicals (LPO and NO) and antioxidants (SOD and GSH) were estimated.Results: PGE showed a decrease in UI in all GU models (45.6 to 79.7%, P<0.05 to P<0.001) indicating both protective and healing effects. PGE showed little or no effects on volume, acid-pepsin concentration and output but increased mucin secretion (55.1%, P<0.05) and mucosal glycoproteins (35.7%, P<0.05) in PL rats. CRS rats showed an increase in LPO and NO (48.4 to 58.3%, P<0.01) and SOD (21.8%, P<0.01) but decrease in GSH and CAT (33.1 to 44.8%, P<0.01 to P<0.001) compared with unstressed rats. PGE-treated CRS rats showed a decrease in LPO and NO (44.1 to 61.2, P<0.01 to P<0.001) and SOD (13.2%, P<0.01) and increase in GSH and CAT (43.8 to 48.7%, P<0.01 to P<0.001) compared with CRS rats.Conclusion: PGE seemed to have ulcer cytoprotective effects due to enhanced mucosal resistance and reduction in oxidative mucosal damage possibly via high antioxidant activity