Antioxidant properties of Vaccinium myrtillus L. stem against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant effect of the AE of Vm stems and to examine their participation in the gastroprotective activity. Phytochemical screening of the AE (infusion 5%) of Vm stems was carried out. The in vivo experimental groups were the following: 1- control group, 2- positive control group (sucralfate 100mg/kg) and 3- AE of Vm treated group (150mg/kg) (n= 6 adult Wistar rats/group). The levels of thiobarbituric acid (TBA, as index of lipid peroxidation) and the activities of reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) were measured in homogenates of gastric mucosa. The pretreatment of the animals with the AE of Vm increased activity of the CAT enzyme and decreased GSH and TBA levels in gastric mucosa homogenates. In addition, the morphological observations at macro and microscopic level also supported a protective effect of the AE. The present results indicate that the gastroprotective effects of AE of Vm stem may be related to their content of phenolic compounds, mediated by its antioxidant properties. We suggest that the AE of the stem of Vm may represent an attractive therapeutic option for protecting against the pathogenesis of gastric ulcers.