Antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory activity and gastroprotective mechanisms of Mallotus roxburghianus (Muell.) against ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in Wistar albino rats

- Mallotus roxburghianus methanol leaf extract (MRME) is abundant with polyphenols.
- MRME act as gastroprotector, lipid peroxidation inhibitor and anti-secretory.
- MRME up regulating HSP70 expression and gastric wall mucus content.
- MRME immunomodulating the infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells.

Mallotus roxburghianus (MR) is being employed as a dietary supplement and therapeutic agent to treat inflammation and stomach ulcers in Southeast Asia. Gastroprotective effects of methanol leaf extract of MR (MRME) and its possible mechanisms were elucidated in ethanol induced gastric ulcers in Wistar albino rats. MRME was abundant with polyphenols (bergenin and betulinic acid) as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities as evidenced by low IC50 values. Significant (p < 0.05) enhancement in gastric tissue injuries, histopathological alterations, higher infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells, increase in pH, total acidity and malonaldehyde levels, reduction in mucus content and antioxidant defense enzymes and down regulation of HSP70 expression were noticed in ulcer control group while these pathological manifestations were significantly recuperated by pretreatment of MRME in the doses between 5 and 200 mg/kg. Based on these findings, MRME could be used as a new source of gastroprotective therapeutic agent in animals.