ABSTRACT
In the present study, the protective effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) administration on nitric oxide (NO), sialic acid (SA), vitamin C, antioxidant enzymes, reduced glutathione (GSH), and DNA-fragmentation in ethanol-induced gastric mucosa erosion rats have been evaluated. This study was carried out on 45 male rats. The rats were divided into three equal groups of 15 rats each. Group Ι :( Control group): received no drugs. Group Π :( ulcerated non-treated group): Administration of a single oral dose of 1 ml/rat of absolute ethanol for ulcerated induction and Group III :( ulcerated + ALA protected group): received ALA orally in a daily dose of 100 mg/kg body weight for seven days prior ethanol administration. Ethanol-induced a significant decreased in serum (NO) and (SA) and vitamin C, GPX, SOD and CAT activities in gastric mucosa tissue. Also, marked increase of GR activity and DNA-fragmentation and, non-significantly increases on GSH concentration.
Pretreatment with ALA to ethanol-induced ulcerated rats significantly increase SA, vitamin C and SOD activity. Also, non-significantly increase of NO, CAT and GSH concentration. Meanwhile, significantly reduced GR and DNA-fragmentation was observed as well as non-significantly decrease GPX activity. These results suggest that, ALA may be effective in enhances the healing of gastric ulcers by its radical scavenging and antiapoptotic activity, as well as by regenerating endogenous antioxidant mechanisms.