Gastroprotective Effect of Ginger Extract against an Ethanol/HCl-Induced Acute Gastric Ulcer Rat Model and a <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection Mouse Model

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in traditional medicine for a long time.However, the mechanisms through which ginger exerts its gastroprotective effects have not yet been clearly elucidated.This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and explore the therapeutic mechanism of ginger extract (GE, Ginginoll) against an ethanol/hydrochloric acid (EtOH/HCl)-induced gastric ulcer rat model and a Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection mouse model.Gastric ulcers were induced by oral gavage of the EtOH/HCl mixture after administration of GE for 14 days in Sprague-Dawley rats.H. pylori infection was induced through intragastric inoculation of H. pylori, followed by administration of GE for 4 weeks in C57BL/6 mice.The results showed that pre-treatment with GE significantly reduced the gastric ulcer index.Moreover, GE effectively increased antioxidant enzyme activity as well as decreased lipid peroxidation through activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/heme oxygenase-1 signaling pathway.GE significantly suppressed the expression of tumor necrosis factor-, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling pathway.Additionally, GE significantly protected the gastric wall by increasing mucus, the expression of mucin 5AC, oligomeric mucus/ gel-forming, and prostaglandin E 2 .Notably, GE successfully cured the H. pylori infection and prevented H. pylori-induced pathology.These findings demonstrate that GE has protective effects on gastric mucosa by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and H. pylori infections.