Mechanisms of the protective effects of curcumin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that render it an attractive candidate for protection against gastric ulcer. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the protective effects of curcumin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats.

METHODS

Gastric ulceration was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of indomethacin (30 mg/kg). Curcumin (50 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 30 min before ulcer induction.

RESULTS

Curcumin showed gastroprotective effects as evidenced by significant decreases in ulcer index, total acid output and pepsin activity in gastric juice in addition to gastric mucosal malondialdehyde concentration, and concomitant increases in gastric juice mucin concentration, gastric mucosal nitric oxide level and catalase and superoxide dismutase activities as compared to the indomethacin-induced ulcer group. Moreover, immunohistochemical investigations demonstrated that curcumin treatment markedly decreased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, nuclear factor-κB, and caspase-3.

CONCLUSION

Curcumin protected the rats' gastric mucosa against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration possibly, at least in part, by enhancement of the gastric mucosal barrier and reduction in acid secretory parameters in addition to antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities.