Investigation of Protective Effect of Hypericum Perforatum on Ethanol-Induced Acute Gastric Mucosal Injury in Rats

Aim:This study was conducted to evaluate the antiapoptototic and antiinflammatory effect of Hypericum perforatum in the rats induced gastric ulcer by absolute ethanol.Material and Methods:Forty male Wistar albino rats were used in this study. Rats were divided four group, randomly. Group I (Control, n=10), Group II (Ethanol, n=10, 1 ml ethanol, orally, 90 min) Group III (H. perforatum + ethanol, 1 ml H. perforatum, 120 min; 1 ml ethanol, 90 min, orally), Group IV (Olive oil + ethanol, 1 ml olive oil, 120 min; 1 ml ethanol, 90 min, orally). Gastric ulcer score was determined in gastric mucosa by morphometrically. Histopatological staining, Immunohistochemical iNOS and PCNA staining, apoptotic TUNEL staining, gastric IL-10 and IL-6 expression (ELISA) and SOD, MDA, CAT levels were assessed in gastric tissue.Results:Elevated ulcer index and increased IL-6, iNOS, TUNEL and MDA levels were detected in the ethanol-induced gastric injury model (grup II). Pre-treatment of H. perforatum and olive oil significantly attenuated the gastric lesions as compared to the group II.Conclusion:It was concluded that H. perforatum and olive oil may represents a potential therapeutic option to reduce the risk of gastric mucosal ulceration