EFFECT OF ELLAGIC ACID ON GASTRIC MUCOSA OF EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED GASTRIC ULCER: HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Mai M.H. Selim*, Eman Badwi ElShal and Azaa H. Abd Elwahab

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Ellagic acid (EA) is one of the naturally occurring polyphenols of plant origin. The EA has been known as a gastroprotective agent of natural plant origin. Aim of the work: The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of EA on the gastric mucosal injury induced by aspirin in adult male albino rats. Materials and Methods: 48 adult male albino rats were divided into 4 equal groups: group I; control group, group II; E.A. group: in this group the animals received daily oral dose of E.A. (50mg/kg). Group III; aspirin group: in which the animals received (O.2gm/kg) of aspirin as a daily oral dose. Group IV; E.A. & aspirin group: in this group the animals were given both E.A. & aspirin. The experiment was continued for 3 weeks, after which, the stomach samples were collected, processed for histological & immunohistochemical study. The mean number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive cells were measured and statistically represented. In addition, gastric Ph, gastric wall mucus content, peptic activity, angiogenic marker, as: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), oxidative stress markers, and inflammatory marker were also estimated and statistically represented. Results: Examination of sections of aspirin group revealed that aspirin induced desquamation of gastric epithelium, which may extend to reach the base of some gastric glands. Mucus contents and angiogenic marker were decreased, while the peptic activity, gastric acidity (gastric ph), oxidative stress, and inflammatory makers were increased. The PCNA positive cells were significantly decreased in this group if compared with the control group. The combined use of EA & aspirin showed generalized improvement of most histological changes and the other parameters, if compared to the control. Conclusion: E.A. administration protects the gastric mucosa from damage induced by aspirin.

Keywords: Aspirin, Gastric Mucosa, Ellagic Acid, Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen.