Grape seed oil attenuates sodium arsenite-induced gastric, hepatic and colonic damage in Wistar rats

Arsenic exposure is associated with numerous morbidities due to dysfunction of various organ systems including the gastrointestinal tract. We investigated the protective effect of grape seed oil (GSO) against sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂)-induced gastric, hepatic and colonic injuries in rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six as follows: Group A (control) received saline; group B received NaAsO₂ (2.5 mg/kg) orally for 7 days; group C were treated concurrently with NaAsO₂ and GSO (2 ml/kg), while group D received only GSO. Administration of NaAsO₂ induced significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST); increased periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining for mucus and increased goblet cell numbers in the stomach and colon; inflammatory cell infiltration and vascular congestion and alterations in the fecal bacterial flora. GSO supplementation generally promoted a reversal of changes induced by NaAsO₂ towards control levels. Additionally, there was increased immunohistochemically detected expression of colonic B-cell lymphoma-1 (Bcl-2) and cytokeratins AE1/AE3, but reduced expression of mucin 1 (MUC1) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in NaAsO₂ + GSO and GSO treated rats when compared with the NaAsO₂ group. These results suggest that GSO promoted anti-inflammatory processes in the liver, stomach and colon, as well as opposing apoptosis in the colon, resulting in significant attenuation of damage to these tissues.