Apple polyphenol extracts prevent aspirin-induced damage to the rat gastric mucosa

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 100; no. 6; pp. 1228 - 1236
• Main Authors: D'Argenio, Giuseppe, Mazzone, Giovanna, Tuccillo, Concetta, Grandone, Ilenia, Gravina, Antonietta G., Graziani, Giulia, Fogliano, Vincenzo, Romano, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2008
• Subjects: adverse effects; animal models; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - blood; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - toxicity; Apple polyphenols; Apples; Aspirin; Aspirin - blood; Aspirin - toxicity; Bioactive compounds; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Availability; blood; catechin; chemically induced; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 - metabolism; Data analysis; disease prevention; drug effects; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods; duodenal ulcers; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Flavonoids; Flavonoids - therapeutic use; fruit extracts; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastric Acid; Gastric Acid - secretion; Gastric injury; gastric juice; gastric mucosa; Gastric Mucosa - drug effects; Gastrointestinal tract; growth factors; Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Liquid chromatography; Male; messenger RNA; metabolism; methods; Molecular weight; Natural & organic foods; Natural products; Phenols; Phenols - therapeutic use; Phytotherapy; Phytotherapy - methods; Plant Extracts; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Polyphenols; prevention & control; Prophylaxis; protective effect; protein synthesis; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Risk factors; Rodents; secretion; Stomach; Stomach Ulcer; Stomach Ulcer - chemically induced; Stomach Ulcer - prevention & control; therapeutic use; toxicity; Transforming Growth Factor alpha; Transforming Growth Factor alpha - metabolism; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Aspirin; Apple polyphenols; Gastric injury; Stomach; Rat; Digestive system; Injury; Mucosa; Rodentia; Extract; Acetylsalicylic acid; Apple polyphenols: Aspirin: Gastric injury; Vertebrata; Polyphenol; Apple; Mammalia; Animal; Lesion
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114508988747

Aspirin causes gastroduodenal ulcers and complications. Food bioactive compounds could exert beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract. We evaluated whether apple polyphenol extract (APE) reduced aspirin-induced injury to the rat gastric mucosa. Rats were treated with APE (10− 4 m catechin equivalent) before oral aspirin (200 mg/kg). Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), transforming growth factor-α (TGFα) and heparin-binding epidermal-growth-factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) mRNA and protein expression were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively; malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined by HPLC; gastric secretion was evaluated in pylorus-ligated rats. APE decreased acute and chronic aspirin injury both macroscopically and microscopically (approximately 50 % decrease in lesion score; P < 0·05). Aspirin up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 and HB-EGF, but not of TGFα; APE reduced aspirin-induced mRNA and protein over-expression of COX-2 and HB-EGF; aspirin significantly increased gastric MDA and this effect was counteracted by APE pre-treatment. APE did not significantly affect gastric acid secretion. In conclusion, APE reduces aspirin-induced gastric injury independently of acid inhibition. We speculate that APE might be of therapeutic use in the prophylaxis of aspirin-related gastropathy.