Anti-ulcer Activity of Curcumin on Experimental Gastric Ulcer in Rats and Its Effect on Oxidative Stress/antioxidant, IL-6 and Enzyme Activities

Objective: To investigate the possible mechanism by which curcumin protects stomach during the acute chronic phase of gastric ulcer disease.

Methods: The rats were divided into four groups and fasted for 2 days with free access to water. On the third day, the animals were fasted for a further 24 h with no access to water followed by surgery. Rats received different doses of curcumin (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) or vehicle by oral gavage. Nineteen hours after ulcer induction, the rats were killed by decapitation. Stomach was opened along the greater curvature and ulcerative lesions were counted. Total juice acidity, neutrophils activity, mitochondrial activity, total antioxidants, paraoxonase (PON 1)/arylesterase and total peroxides were evaluated. DNA fragmentation (%) and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 level were measured. The level of different gastro-cytoprotective effectors including total antioxidants and paraoxonase (PON 1)/arylesterase activities was measured.

Results: The anti-ulcer activity of curcumin was displayed by attenuating the different ulcerative effectors including gastric acid hyper-secretion, total peroxides, myeloperoxiase (MPO) activity, IL-6 and apoptotic incidence.

Conclusion: Curcumin appears to have a propitious protective effect against gastric ulcer development.