Basic nutritional investigationGastroprotective effect of garlic in indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in rats

- Gastric ulcer is worldwide disease.
- Ulcer was induced by indomethacin.
- Garlic was given as aged garlic extract.
- Garlic decreased inflammatory mediators and increased antioxidants while displaying antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects in rats pretreated with garlic prior to indomethacin.
- Garlic shows promise as a mean of protection against ulcers.

ObjectiveGarlic, in its natural plant state, has a great history in ancient medicine as a remedy for many diseases. In our study, the gastroprotective effect of aged garlic extract (AGE) and the possible underlying mechanisms were investigated in an experimental model of indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer.MethodsMale Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (normal control, n = 20), ulcer control (indomethacin group, n = 20), (omeprazole group, n = 30) and (garlic group, n = 20). Each dose of garlic and omeprazole was given to rats orally daily for 10 consecutive days before induction of ulcer by indomethacin. Indomethacin was given as a single oral dose (100 mg/kg). Four hours later after indomethacin treatment, the rats were sacrificed and gastric tissue was obtained for histopathological examination, calculation of ulcer index and measurement of oxidative stress markers as well as gastroprotective mediators.ResultsThe results showed that indomethacin induced gastric ulcer (ulcer index = 2900), was associated with a significant increase of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and malondialdehyde, and significant decrease of the gastroprotective mediators prostaglandin E2, glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO) compared with normal control. Pretreatment with AGE produced comparable results with those obtained in the omeprazole group; the preventive index in the AGE group was 83.4% compared with 94.5% in the omeprazole group. The prophylactic role of AGE in indomethacin-induced ulcer was, in part, mediated by decreasing oxidative stress and increasing gastric level of PGE2, GSH, and NO.ConclusionAGE corrected the histopathological abnormalities in gastric tissue and proved a promising gastroprotective role in gastric ulcer.