Antioxidative Action of Alpha-Linolenic Acid during Its Gastroprotective Effect in an Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Injury Model

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are known to have beneficial effects. In particular, the consumption of omega-3 PUFAs has recently increased because of their effects on human health. Previous studies have investigated the activity of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; C:18 omega-3) in metabolism and inflammation models. In a murine model of colitis, treatment with ALA effectively reduced inflammation. Previously, our research group identified the protective action of docosahexaenoic acid against gastric damage caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The present study aimed to examine the impact of ALA in an indomethacin-induced gastric injury model and to determine its antioxidant activity in gastric tissue. Female Wistar rats were administered ALA over 10 days (20 mg/kg, orally). Two hours after the final ALA administration, the rats were given indomethacin (30 mg/kg, orally) to induce gastric injury. After 3 h, the rats were euthanized, and each stomach lesion was measured to determine the total damage. Stomach tissue samples were collected for the analysis of various antioxidant indicators. The results show ALA's gastroprotective effect following 10-day administration. ALA treatment significantly reduced gastric reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels in the indomethacin-induced injury group. Moreover, ALA treatment decreased the levels of nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase, leukotriene B₄, and increased glutathione following indomethacin administration. These results suggest that the gastroprotective effects of ALA are likely attributed to its role in the antioxidant pathway in indomethacin-induced gastric injury.