Evaluation of the Gastroprotective Effects of Hazelnut Oil Against Ethanol-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury in Rats

This study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective effects of hazelnut oil against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats by macroscopic and histopathological evaluations. Thirty-five male Wistar rats (180–220 g) were randomly divided into five groups (n=7): Control (saline), Ethanol (75% ethanol, 5 mL/kg), Hazelnut Oil-Low Dose (HO-L, 2.5 mL/kg hazelnut oil + ethanol), Hazelnut Oil-High Dose (HO-H, 5 mL/kg hazelnut oil + ethanol), and Ranitidine (50 mg/kg + ethanol). Treatments were administered orally for 7 days, followed by ethanol. Ulcer area, inhibition rate, and histopathological scores (inflammation, edema, epithelial damage, hemorrhage) were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Ethanol induced significant gastric injury, while HO-L, HO-H, and Ranitidine groups showed significantly reduced ulcer areas (P < 0.001) and histopathological scores (P < 0.005). The highest inhibition was observed in the Ranitidine group (95%), followed by HO-H (78%) and HO-L (39%). Hazelnut oil exerts a dose-dependent protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric damage, likely due to its oleic acid and vitamin E content. These findings suggest hazelnut oil may serve as a natural alternative in the prevention of gastric ulcers.