The Effects of Hippophae Rhamnoides L. Extract on Ethanolinduced Gastric Lesion and Gastric Tissue Glutathione Level in Rats

Objective: To investigate and compare the effects of a hexanoic extract obtained from fresh fruit of Hippophae rhamnoides L ., (HRe-1) melatonin and omeprazole on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer and on the levels of gastric tissue glutathione (GSH). Methods: Fifty albino Wistar male rats were used. Gastric lesion was produced by ethanol. GSH levels of gastric tissue were determined according to Griffith method. Results: Mean number of ulcer foci was 12.3±0.8 in ethanol group, 3.1±0.5 in HRe-1 and 4.3±0.67 melatonin groups. Mean ulcer area was 5.4±0.86 mm 2 in HRe-1, 20.5±0.72 mm 2 in omeprazole, 7.0±0.93 mm 2 in melatonin and 29.3±1.32 mm 2 in ethanol groups (p< 0.001: ethanol group vs other groups). Gastric tissue GSH levels of HRe-1 and melatonin groups were fairly close to the normal values. Additionally, this level was significantly reduced in omeprazole and ethanol groups. While there was no difference in terms of mean ulcer area and number of ulcer foci, between melatonin and HRe-1 groups, gastric tissue GSH levels were found significantly higher in HRe-1 than in melatonin groups. Conclusion: HRe-1 has some benefical effects, even more potent than melatonin, on gastric tissue GSH levels and on the prevention of ethanol-induced ulcer formation in rats.