Spirulina ameliorates aspirin-induced gastric ulcer in albino mice by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2019-01, Vol.109, p.314-321
• Main Authors: Mahmoud, Yomna I., Abd El-Ghffar, Eman A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aspirin; Gastric ulcer; Immunohistochemistry; Inflammation; Oxidative stress; Spirulina
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.10.118

[Display omitted] •Gastric ulcer is a serious effect of prolonged use of aspirin.•Spirulina was reported to have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects.•Effect of spirulina on aspirin-induced gastric injury was investigated.•Spirulina attenuated ulcers via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Aspirin is a commonly prescribed non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, but its prolonged use injures the gastric mucosa. The present study was carried out to evaluate the ameliorative effect of spirulina against aspirin-induced gastric ulcer in albino mice. Gastric ulcer was induced by oral administration of aspirin (500 mg/kg bw). Spirulina (250 and 500 mg/kg bw) was given orally for 3 days after the induction of gastric ulcer. Spirulina ameliorated aspirin-induced gastric ulcer by improving the gross morphology, histology and mucous layer of gastric tissue, augmenting the endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and catalase) and the cytoprotective marker (COX-1), and by alleviating tissue levels of the lipid peroxidation marker (malondialdehyde) and inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, COX-2 and NO). In conclusion, spirulina has a therapeutic potential in aspirin-induced gastric injury by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation.