The present work aimed at testing, in a rat model of
ethanol-induced gastric ulceration, a local folk medicinal claim that dates are beneficial in
gastric ulcers in humans. Aqueous and ethanolic undialyzed and dialyzed extracts from date fruit and pits were given orally to rats at a dose of 4 ml/kg for 14 consecutive days. On the last day of treatment, rats were fasted for 24 h, and were then given
ethanol, 80% (1 ml/rat) by gastric intubation to induce
gastric ulcer. Rats were killed after 1 h of
ethanol exposure, and the incidence and severity of the ulceration were estimated, as well as the concentrations of
gastrin in plasma, and
histamine and mucus in the gastric mucosa. A single group of rats that were fasted for 24 h, was administered orally with
lansoprazole (30 mg/kg), and was given 80%
ethanol as above, 8 h thereafter, served as a positive control. The results indicated that the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the date fruit and, to a lesser extent, date pits, were effective in ameliorating the severity of gastric ulceration and mitigating the
ethanol-induced increase in
histamine and
gastrin concentrations, and the decrease in
mucin gastric levels. The ethanolic undialyzed extract was more effective than the rest of the other extracts used. It is postulated that the basis of the gastroprotective action of date extracts may be multi-factorial, and may include an
anti-oxidant action.