Myristica malabarica Heals Stomach Ulceration by Increasing Prostaglandin Synthesis and Angiogenesis

Abstract

Earlier we had shown that on the 3^rd day of its administration to mice, indomethacin (18 mg kg⁻¹, p. o.) produced maximum stomach ulceration with a damage score of 3.46, which was reduced by a 3-day treatment with the methanol extract of Myristica malabarica (40 mg kg⁻¹, p. o.) and omeprazole (3 mg kg⁻¹, p. o.) to 0.95 and 0.82, respectively. Presently, we investigated the possible role of the test samples in modulating PG synthesis and angiogenesis for their healing action. The ulceration was found to be associated with suppression of PGE₂, VEGF and vWF VIII, and an increase in EGF and endostatin levels. Treatment with the plant extract reversed all these parameters accounting for its healing activity. However, despite providing similar healing, omeprazole did not alter these parameters.

Abbreviations

EGF:epidermal growth factor

PG:prostaglandin

BEGF:vascular endothelial growth factor

vWF:von Willebrand factor

K:kinetin

AS:adenine sulfate

Key words

Myristica malabarica - Myristicaceae - gastrointestinal ulceration - angiogenesis - PGE₂

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