Ginger extract and polaprezinc exert gastroprotective actions by anti-oxidant and growth factor modulating effects in rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM:

Contemporary medications used in the treatment of gastric ulcers involve the use of novel mucosal protective drugs. The present study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective effect of ginger extract and polaprezinc in a rat model of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer.

METHODS:

'Kissing' ulcers were induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by using 60% acetic acid. Rhizoma Zingiber officinale (ginger) extract (1.5-5 g/kg) or polaprezinc (30 and 60 mg/kg) was orally given to the animals once daily for three consecutive days after ulcer induction. All animals were killed on day 5 by an overdose of ketamine.

RESULTS:

Both ginger extract and polaprezinc significantly reduce the gastric ulcer area in a dose-dependent manner, with concomitant attenuation of the elevated activities of xanthine oxidase and myeloperoxidase, as well as malondialdehyde level in the ulcerated mucosa. Nevertheless, only polaprezinc could restore the mucosal glutathione level. Polaprezinc also causes the overexpression of basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and ornithine decarboxylase, whereas ginger extract only increases the expression of the two growth factors in the gastric mucosa. Furthermore, polaprezinc could consistently downregulate the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-1β, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-2α that have been activated in the ulcerated tissues, whereas ginger extract mainly inhibits the expression of the chemokines and to some extent TNF-α.

CONCLUSION:

Ginger extract and polaprezinc both show anti-oxidation that consequently alleviates gastric mucosal damage and promotes ulcer healing, which together serve as effective mucosal protective agents.

• Authors: Joshua K Ko, Catherine C Leung
• Journal: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology (J Gastroenterol Hepatol) Vol. 25 Issue 12 Pg. 1861-8 (Dec 2010) ISSN: 1440-1746 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 21091998 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2010 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Chemical References

• Anti-Ulcer Agents
• Antioxidants
• Chemokines
• Cytokines
• Inflammation Mediators
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Organometallic Compounds
• Plant Extracts
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Zinc Compounds
• polaprezinc
• Carnosine
• Acetic Acid

Topics

• Acetic Acid
• Animals
• Anti-Ulcer Agents (pharmacology)
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Carnosine (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Chemokines (metabolism)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Cytoprotection
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Gastric Mucosa (drug effects, metabolism)
• Ginger
• Inflammation Mediators (metabolism)
• Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins (metabolism)
• Male
• Organometallic Compounds (pharmacology)
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Stomach (drug effects, pathology)
• Stomach Ulcer (chemically induced, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Time Factors
• Wound Healing (drug effects)
• Zinc Compounds (pharmacology)