We previously profiled the chemical composition of wax apple, Syzygium samarangense, leaf extract using HR-LC-MS/MS and reported its
antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antitrypanosomal activities. The plant is widely used in
traditional medicine to cure several ailments like
bronchitis,
asthma, diabetes,
fever, pathogenic
infections, gut
spasms, as well as renal diseases. However, neither the gastroprotective effects nor the underlying mechanisms were explored. Here, we investigated the gastroprotective potential of the leaf extract on
indomethacin-induced
gastric ulcer in rats and explored the involved mechanism(s) of action. Administration of
indomethacin significantly increased the
ulcer index, mucosal injury, the gastric levels of the inflammatory markers nuclear factor kabba B-p65(NF-κB p65),
myeloperoxidase (MPO),
interleukin-6 (IL-6),
tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), lipid peroxidation product,
malondialdehyde (MDA) and
Caspase-3 expression. It reduced the gastric levels of the
endogenous antioxidants glutathione as well
peroxidase (GPx),
reduced glutathione (GSH) and the gastric mucosal protective factors, mucus secretion and goblet cells. Pretreatment with the leaf extract displayed a prominent decrease in the
ulcer index, inflammatory cell infiltration, inflammatory markers, MDA,
protein expression of
Caspase-3 and a significant increase in the gastric levels of the
endogenous antioxidants, mucus content and goblet cell proliferation when compared to the
indomethacin group. The individual secondary metabolites of the extract exhibited low binding energy when docked into the
prostaglandin receptors EP3 and EP4. This study revealed the gastroprotective effect of S. samarangense on
indomethacin-induced
gastric ulcer in rats. The gastroprotective effects might be attributed to cytoprotective,
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic activities with a possible potential of activating EP3 and EP4 receptors. In conclusion, S. samarangense has a promising potential in the prevention of
NSAIDs-induced
ulcers.