Pomegranate bioactive constituents suppress indomethacine induced experimental peptic ulcer

Peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract. Several investigations have confirmed the role of oxidative stress in developmental peptic ulcers, possibly via the formation of free radicals. Currently due to several adverse effects of chemical drugs, herbal medicines are generally used in the treatment of peptic ulcer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of pomegranate juice on experimental gastric ulcer induced by indomethacin and exhibit its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Forty male albino rats were used in this study and divided into four groups (control, pomegranate, peptic ulcer and treated) groups. Pomegranate and treated groups received 0.5 ml pomegranate juice/rat/day orally by gavage. After four weeks, liver and kidney functions were estimated, stomach malondialdehyde, superoxidedismutase, paraoxonase and total antioxidant capacity were determined by colorimetric methods. Serum interleukin-1 α was estimated by ELISA while, serum homocysteine was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pomegranate supplementation significantly increased stomach total antioxidant, superoxide dismutase and paraoxonase levels concomitant with a reduction of malondialdhyde, interleukin-1 α and homocysteine values in treated group compared to peptic ulcer group. In conclusion, pomegranate seems to be a highly promising plant in protecting against the peptic ulcer through its antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties.