A Traditional Gum Exudate From Pistacia atlantica Ameliorates Etha-Nol-Mediated Gastric Ulcer in Rats: Possible Molecular Mechanisms

Pistacia atlantica (Bene) is a native Mediterranean plant that exudates a resinous therapeutic oleoresin gum used for many inflammatory-related diseases. Therefore, the present study evaluates the acute toxicity and the gastroprotective effects of Pistacia atlantica gum (PAG) on ethanol-mediated gastric ulcers in rats. Sprague Dawley rats (30) were placed in 5 cages: Group A received 10% tween 20; Group B, ulcer control, received 10% tween 20; reference rats (C, received 20 mg/kg omeprazole), groups D and E received 250 and 500 mg/kg of PAG, respectively. After 60 min, Groups B-E rats received absolute ethanol (5 mL/kg). The acute toxicity results showed a lack of any physiological alterations in rats supplemented with up to 5 g/kg of PAG. In the gastroprotective trial, the ulcer controls exhibited extensive gastric mucosal injuries, reduced stomach mucus secretion, a highly acidic stomach, and increased lesion areas. Ethanol ingestion caused significant inflammatory cell infiltration and oxidative stress indicators in their gastric tissues. The ulcer controls revealed reduced HSP 70, elevated Bax protein expressions, and lowered antioxidant enzymes and up-regulated MDA contents. PAG treatment restored these negative effects of ethanol, which could be because of its terpenoids, phenolics, and flavonoids potentials that positively modulated the gastric defense barriers (mucopolysaccharides), gastric antioxidants, mucus secretion, and significantly increased gastric pH and reduced inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). The gastro-prophylactic potentials are validated by its modulatory actions of gastric defense mechanisms, providing scientific evidence for future biochemical characterizations.