Protective effects of a triple‐fermented barley extract (FBe) against HCl/EtOH‐induced gastric mucosa damage in mice

This study was designed to observe the possible protective effects of a triple‐fermented barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) extract ( FB e) obtained by saccharification and using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Weissella cibaria in alleviating gastric damage induced by a hydrochloric acid ( HC l) and ethanol (Et OH ) mixture in mice. After oral administration of FB e (300, 200, and 100 mg/kg) followed by 1 hr before and after the single treatment of HC l/Et OH (H/E) mixture, the hemorrhagic lesion scores, histopathology of the stomach, gastric nitrate/nitrite content, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant defense systems including catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were observed. Following a single oral treatment of H/E‐induced gastric damages as measured by hemorrhagic gross lesions and histopathological gastric, ulcerative lesions were significantly and dose‐dependently ( p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) inhibited in mice, when all three different doses of FB e were administered as compared to those in H/E control mice. In particular, FB e also increased gastric nitrate/nitrite content and strengthened the antioxidant defense, with a decrease in the level of gastric lipid peroxidation, but increased the activities of CAT and SOD . Moreover, the effects of FB e are comparable to that of ranitidine, a reference drug. The obtained results suggest that this fermented barley extract prevented mice from H/E‐induced gastric mucosal damages through the suppression of inflammatory responses and oxidative stress‐responsive free radicals. Thus, FB e can be useful to treat patients suffering from gastric mucosal disorders as a potent food supplement, and thereby, it would increase the necessity of application in the food industry.