Amelioration of gastric mucosal lesions induced by multiple stressors in rats treated with garlic (Allium sativum L.) suspension

Abstract

Garlic (Allium sativum L.), renowned for its pleiotropic medicinal value in traditional medicine, is a popular culinary item consumed worldwide. The present study aimed to justify the use of garlic in Arab traditional medicine for the treatment of acute gastric ulcer. The plethora of its beneficial effects has been ascribed to its multiple bioactive constituents including organosulfur compounds. Nutraceutical products containing garlic-derived compounds are known to possess a myriad of pharmacological effects such as hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, cardioprotective, hypolipidemic, anti-microbial, anti-tumor effects. Studies in animal models and humans have shown a beneficial effect of garlic on the gastrointestinal system. Herein, using a rat model of gastric mucosal injury, simulating gastric ulcer disease of humans, we show that garlic suspension (250 and 500 mg/kg) dose-dependently mitigates gastric ulceration (evaluated as ulcer index) triggered by hypothermic restraint, pyloric ligation (Shay rats), indomethacin and necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 mol/L NaOH and 25% NaCl). The results of this study show that the acute administration of garlic suspension significantly thwarted gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats and enhanced mucus secretion following the administration of 80% ethanol. Mechanistically, rats pretreated with garlic suspension showed a slight alteration in non-protein sulfhydryl and malondealdehyde levels of gastric tissue following treatment with 80% ethanol; this data points to a subtle antioxidant activity of the suspension. Taken together, these findings unravel gastroprotective effects of garlic suspension in rats subjected to multiple stress conditions. Dietary consumption of garlic and garlic-based supplements may have a beneficial impact on digestive health by alleviating the development and/or progression of gastric mucosal damage

Keywords: Garlic, antioxidant, antiulcer, rats, nutraceutical.