Effects of the Combination of Citri Unshius Pericarpium and Evodiae Fructus on Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in a Reflux Esophagitis Model

Objective: Reflux esophagitis (RE) results from backward flow of gastric contents, and conventional treatments often have side-effects. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of a combined extract of Citri unshius pericarpium and Evodiae Fructus (CPE) in an acute RE rat model.Methods: Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups. The normal and control groups received distilled water, while the experimental groups received CPE (50 or 100 mg/kg). After 3.5 h, serum reactive oxygen species (ROS), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and inflammatory cytokines were measured. Esophageal tissues were analyzed for antioxidant, inflammatory, tight junction (TJ), and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.Results: CPE reduced ROS, PGE2, and inflammatory cytokine levels; activated the Nrf2 pathway; increased antioxidant enzymes; decreased MAPK, COX-1, and COX-2 expression; and modulated TJ and ECM proteins.Conclusion: CPE alleviates esophageal injury by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress through NF-κB inhibition and Nrf2 activation, highlighting its potential as a natural therapy for RE.