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Introduction

Gastritis is a condition involving inflammation, irritation and erosion, which occurs when the endogenous defense mechanisms of the mucosal barrier cannot protect the organ. Alcohol increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress, and decreases the levels of antioxidant in a number of cells and tissues, leading to gastric damage (1). ROS provoke severe changes at the cellular level, which can lead to cell death resulting from the marked reactivity. Increased ROS production leads to lipid peroxidation by reacting with the double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids, which causes the formation of multiple electrophilic aldehyde species. These species are capable of forming adducts with proteins, which leads to protein dysfunction (2). Oxidative stress occurs when ROS production exceeds the capacity of the cellular antioxidant system, or when the functioning of the antioxidant defense system is insufficient to neutralize the oxidants (3). Ethanol causes severe oxidative stress in gastric tissue, and a competent antioxidant defense system is important to provide gastric protection (4). Previous studies have reported that antioxidant enzymes protect against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury (5–7).

Prostaglandins exert a gastroprotective effect against gastric mucosal injury through the maintenance of gastric mucus synthesis and secretion (8). In particular, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is important in the regulation of gastric mucus secretion (9). PGE2 has been shown to have protective effects in various gastric injury models (10). However, ethanol reduces mucosal PGE2 content (11).

According to the World Health Organization, >80% of the world's population relies on medicinal herbs for their primary healthcare requirements (12). The herbs used for traditional medicine contain a wide range of substances, which are used to prevent or treat various diseases (13). Syzygium aromaticum (SA), one type of medicinal herb, has antioxidant activity (14), antifungal activity (15), a hypoglycemic effect (16), a bone-preserving effect (17), chemopreventive potential in lung cancer (18), effects on the immune response (19) and an antiobesity effect (20). The antioxidant properties of SA suggest that it may be a promising candidate as an antigastritis or antiulcer agent. Therefore, in the present study, whether SA water extract (SAWE) has gastroprotective potential against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats was investigated.

Materials and methods

Preparation of SAWE

SAWE was prepared in K-herb Research Center of Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (Daejeon, Korea). The extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis were performed, as described previously (21).

Ethanol-induced gastritis

Specific-pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats, (200–250 g; 6 weeks old) from Daehan Biolink Co., Ltd. (Chungbuk, Korea) were acclimatized for 1 week prior to the start of the investigation with evaluation of health status. The animals were maintained in environmentally controlled rooms at 23±3°C under a relative humidity of 50±10% with a 12 h light-dark cycle and 12–15 air changes/h, as previously described (22).

The present study was performed at the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (Daejeon, Republic of Korea), and the protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. All experimental procedures were performed in compliance with the National Institute of Health Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (23), and the National Animal Welfare Law of Korea (24).

Gastric lesions were induced via intragastric administration of absolute ethanol, according to a previously described method (25–27) with minor modification. A total of 35 rats were divided into five groups (n=7/group) and fasted for 18 h prior to the experiment. The rats in the control group were orally administered with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; 5 ml/kg body weight) as the vehicle, and those in the absolute-ethanol group were administered with absolute ethanol orally (5 ml/kg body weight). The rats in the positive control group were administered with cimetidine (100 mg/kg body weight) orally 2 h prior to the administration of absolute ethanol for 3 days. Cimetidine was used as a positive control drug as it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities, and is used widely in the treatment of gastritis (28). The treatment groups received SAWE (250 or 500 mg/kg body weight) 2 h prior to the administration of absolute ethanol for 3 days.

At the end of the 3 days, the rats were sacrificed with an overdose of 100 mg/kg pentobarbital, performed 24 h following the final ethanol administration. The stomach was removed, opened along the greater curvature and gently rinsed with PBS. The stomach was stored at −70°C until biochemical analysis.

Biochemical analysis

Biochemical analysis was performed using a previously described method (29). The stomach was cut into small sections and homogenized (1/10 w/v) with tissue lysis/extraction reagent containing protease inhibitors (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA). The homogenates were centrifuged at 15,000 × g for 10 min at 4°C to precipitate the cell debris, the protein concentration of the supernatant was determined using a Protein Assay Dye Reagent Concentrate (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA), according to the manufacturer's protocol. This homogenized sample was used to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), and the activities of catalase, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The protein concentrations were measured using Protein Assay Reagent Concentrate (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Hercules, CA, USA), according to the manufacturer's protocol.

To estimate lipid peroxidation, the content of MDA was measured using a thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances assay kit (BioAssay Systems, Hayward, CA, USA). The GSH content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, catalase, GST and SOD, were measured using commercial kits (Cayman Chemical Company, Ann Arbor, MI, USA), according to the manufacturer's protocols. The values for the MDA and GSH contents are expressed as nmol/mg and μmol/mg protein, respectively, and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes are expressed as U/mg protein.

Measurement of PGE2 levels

The concentrations of PGE2 were measured using a previously described method (27). The production of PGE2 was measured in the homogenates of the gastric tissue using an immune-linked immunosorbent assay kit (Cayman Chemical Company), according to the manufacturer's protocol.

Histopathology and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) histochemistry

The glandular face of the stomach was examined histologically. The stomach tissues were preserved in 10% buffered-formalin and processed for paraffin block preparation. Sections measuring ~4 μm in thickness were stained with hematoxylin (cat. no. MHS-16; Sigma-Aldrich) and eosin (cat. no. HT110-1-32; Sigma-Aldrich) solution, and PAS (IMEB, Inc., San Marcos, CA, USA) to estimate inflammation and mucus production, respectively. The histopathological changes were assessed by microscopy, according to the previously described criteria (29).

Statistical analysis

All data are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean. One-way analysis of variance was used to detect significant differences between the control and treatment groups. Dunnett's test was used for multiple comparisons. Statistical analysis was performed using Systat software (version 10; Systat Software Inc., San Jose, CA, USA). P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.

Results

Effect of SAWE on lipid peroxidation and GSH content in ethanol-induced gastritis

As shown in Fig. 1A, the concentration of MDA, an end product of lipid peroxidation, was higher in the ethanol group (130.75±6.52 nmol/mg protein; P<0.01), compared with the control group (72.05±3.17 nmol/mg protein). By contrast, the MDA content was significantly lower, in a dose-dependent manner, in the groups treated with SAWE at 250 (64.79±7.84 nmol/mg protein; P<0.01) or 500 mg/kg (55.31±4.23 nmol/mg protein; P<0.01), compared with the ethanol group. The positive control cimetidine-treated group also had a lower MDA content (63.42±5.33 nmol/mg protein; P<0.01), compared with the ethanol group.

Figure 1 Effects of SAWE treatment on the contents of (A) MDA and (B) GSH in gastric mucosa with EtOH-induced gastric injury. The results are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. ##P<0.01, compared with the control group; *P<0.05 and **P<0.01, compared with the EtOH group. SAWE, Syzygium aromaticum water extract; MDA, malondialdehyde; GSH, glutathione.

GSH content was significantly lower in the ethanol group (25.49±3.06 μmol/mg protein; P<0.01), compared with the control group (44.32±1.80 μmol/mg protein; Fig. 1B). By contrast, the GSH contents were higher in the groups treated with SAWE at 250 (37.43±2.93 μmol/mg protein; P<0.01) or 500 mg/kg (33.00±7.40 nmol/mg protein), compared with the ethanol group. GSH content was significantly lower in the cimetidine-treated positive control group (33.80±1.42 μmol/mg protein; P<0.05), compared with the ethanol group.

Effect of SAWE on the activities of antioxidant enzymes in ethanol-induced gastritis

As shown in Fig. 2A, catalase activity was significantly lower in the ethanol group (26.78±1.31 U/mg protein; P<0.01), compared with the control group (48.39±4.26 U/mg protein; P<0.01). By contrast, no significant differences in catalase activity were observed in the groups treated with SAWE at 250 (34.09±2.77 U/mg protein) or 500 mg/kg (35.04±4.32 U/mg protein) or with cimetidine (38.39±1.48 U/mg protein). However, the GST activity was significantly lower in the ethanol group (16.03±1.27 U/mg protein), compared with that in the control group (19.53±0.78 U/mg protein; P<0.01; Fig. 2B). The administration of SAWE at 250 or 500 mg/kg or cimetidine had no significant effect on GST activity, compared with ethanol treatment. SOD activity did not differ significantly between any groups (Fig. 2C).

Figure 2 Effects of SAWE on the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The activities of (A) catalase, (B) GST and (C) SOD in gastric mucosa with ethanol-induced gastric injury. The results are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. ##P<0.01, compared with the control group. SAWE, Syzygium aromaticum water extract; GST, glutathione-S-transferase; SOD, superoxide dismutase.

Effects of SAWE on the production of PGE2

The production of PGE2 was lower in the ethanol group (13.30±0.88 ng/mg protein), compared with the control group (17.81±1.98 ng/mg protein; Fig. 3). No significant difference in the production of PGE2 was observed in the cimetidine-treated positive control group (18.18±3.23 ng/mg protein), compared with the ethanol group. SAWE treatment at a dose of 250 (15.98±2.06 ng/mg protein) or 500 mg/kg (13.88±1.79 ng/mg protein) had no significant effects on the production of PGE2, compared with the ethanol treatment group.

Figure 3 Effects of SAWE on the production of PGE2 in gastric mucosa with ethanol-induced gastric injury. The results are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. SAWE, Syzygium aromaticum water extract; PGE2, prostaglandin E2.

PAS staining evaluation of gastric lesions

The PAS staining was higher in the gastric mucosa of the ethanol group, compared with the control group, indicating an increase in glycoprotein content in the gastric mucosa (Fig. 4). By contrast, the SAWE (250 or 500 mg/kg) and cimetidine-treated groups exhibited normal levels of mucin in the glandular tissue of the stomach, as shown by the increase in magenta staining in the mucosal cell layer, compared with ethanol treatment.

Figure 4 Effects of SAWE on PAS staining in gastric mucosa with ethanol-induced gastric injury. Histological sections were stained with PAS, and images were captured (magnification, ×50). (A) Control group; (B) EtOH group; (C) ethanol+cimetidine (100 mg/kg/day); (D) EtOH+SAWE (250 mg/kg/day) group; (E) EtOH+SAWE (500 mg/kg/day) group. SAWE, Syzygium aromaticum water extract; PAS, periodic acid-Schiff.

Histological evaluation of gastric lesions

In the control group, normal histological structure of the gastric mucosa was observed (Fig. 5). By contrast, the ethanol group showed inflammatory cell infiltration in the mucosa and submucosa. The administration of SAWE (250 or 500 mg/kg) or cimetidine attenuated the loss of epithelial cells and evidence of hemorrhage in the stomach area.

Figure 5 Histopathological examination of gastric mucosa with ethanol-induced gastric injury. Histological sections were stained using hematoxylin and eosin, and images were captured (magnification, ×50). (A) Control group; (B) EtOH group; (C) EtOH+cimetidine (100 mg/kg/day) group; (D) EtOH+SAWE (250 mg/kg/day) group; (E) EtOH+SAWE (500 mg/kg/day) group. SAWE, Syzygium aromaticum water extract.

Discussion

Several medicinal herbs, including Aloe vera, Curcuma longa and Glycyrrhiza glabra, have been reported to possess antiulcer activities (30), and certain phytochemicals in medicinal herbs, including gallic acid, glycyrrhizinic acid, phenolic compounds and flavonoids, have been shown to have gastroprotective effects by regulating gastric mucus secretion or through antioxidant activity (31). Among these, eugenol, gallic acid and ellagic acid, which are abundant constituents of SAWE, have antigastric effects and antioxidant activities (32–34). Based on the previous studies, the present study hypothesized that SAWE, which contains these bioactive components, has a preventive effect against gastric injury.

The administration of ethanol has long been used as a reproducible method to induce gastric injury in experimental animals (35). Ethanol-induced gastric damage is characterized by hemorrhage, mucosal edema, inflammatory cell infiltration and loss of epithelial cells (36). Therefore, the present study, investigated whether SAWE has a protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric injury in rats. The administration of ethanol induced severe gastric lesions, as shown by inflammatory cell infiltration and loss of epithelial cells. By contrast, the administration of SAWE (250 or 500 mg/kg) attenuated the gastric injury induced by ethanol.

ROS, including superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and lipid peroxidation are important in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal injury (4,7,37). MDA is the final product of lipid peroxidation and is used as an estimate of lipid peroxidation levels (38). Lipid peroxidation is caused by an imbalance between antioxidant defense systems and oxidative damage, which affects cell membranes. MDA content was higher in the ethanol group, compared with the SAWE-treated groups (250 or 500 mg/kg) and cimetidine-treated group. These results suggested that SAWE had protective effects against ethanol-induced gastric injury by inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

GSH, an endogenous antioxidant, reacts with peroxides and toxic oxygen radicals, including hydroxyl ions and singlet oxygen, to protect cells from damage (39). The present study found that the GSH content was significantly lower in the ethanol group, compared with the control group. By contrast, GSH contents were higher in the SAWE-treated groups (250 or 500 mg/kg) and cimetidine-treated group, compared with the ethanol group. These findings indicated that pretreatment with SAWE protected the gastric mucosa from ethanol-induced gastric injury by increasing the GSH content.

The important cellular antioxidant enzymes, including catalase, GST, and SOD, contribute to the gastric oxidative-antioxidative balance. Decreases in the activities of these enzymes in the gastric mucosa of rats exposed to ethanol leads to the accumulation of ROS and, consequently, to an increase in MDA levels (40). In the present study, ethanol decreased the activities of catalase and GST, suggesting the importance of these enzymes in the pathogenesis of gastric injury. There were no significant changes in the activities of catalase or GST in the low-dose SAWE-treated group (250 mg/kg) or the cimetidine-treated group, compared with the ethanol group. No alterations in SOD activity were observed in any groups. These results suggested that SAWE enhanced the cellular antioxidant system, which may provide protection against ethanol-induced gastric injury.

PGs are key molecules, which activate ulcer-healing mechanisms and are synthesized in the gastric mucosal cells by cyclooxygenases. PGs stimulate the secretion of bicarbonates and mucus, promote ulcer healing and inhibit the secretion of gastric acid. PGE2, one of the major PGs of the gastric mucosa, can inhibit the secretion of gastric acid (41). The ethanol-induced depletion of gastric mucus has been described previously (42), and this may be caused by an inhibitory effect on the gastric production of PGE2 (43). In the present study, the production of PGE2 was reduced in the ethanol group, whereas the concentration of PGE2 was higher in the rats treated with SAWE at 250 mg/kg/day, compared with the concentration in the ethanol group. The secretion of mucus observed in the SAWE-treated group may have been attributed to the increased PGE2 production observed in the gastric mucosa.

In conclusion, SAWE had a protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric injury by improving antioxidative status and increasing PGE2 production, and by suppressing inflammatory cell infiltration and loss of epithelial cells in the gastric mucosa. These findings suggested that SAWE has potential for further development as a treatment against alcohol-induced gastric injury.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant 'Evaluation of Herb-Herb Interaction by Array Methods funded by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine' from the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (grant no. K12271).

References