Psoralidin Shows Gastroprotective Activity Against Ethanol-induced Acute Gastric Mucosal Injury in Rats via Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Background Gastric ulcers, a predominant type of peptic ulcer disease, are defined by lesions in the stomach lining that extend into the muscularis mucosa. Optimal management of gastric ulcers requires a multidisciplinary approach, with nurses playing a vital role in monitoring gastrointestinal symptoms and educating patients to mitigate disease progression and promote healing. The limitations of existing therapeutics for stomach ulcers highlight the necessity for safe and alternative treatments. Purpose This study aims to examine the gastroprotective role of psoralidin in ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer in rats. Materials and Methods In this study, the rats were orally pre-treated with 25 and 50 mg/kg of psoralidin for 14 days, and ethanol (5 mL/kg) was ingested on the last day of treatment to induce an acute gastric ulcer in rats. Omeprazole was employed as the standard drug. The ulcer area, ulcer inhibition rate, and mucus weight in the rats were evaluated. The concentrations of oxidative stress markers, inflammatory markers, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the experimental rats were evaluated using kits. The gastric tissues were obtained and utilized for histological analysis. Results The current findings demonstrate that psoralidin pre-treatment at dosages of 25 and 50 mg/kg effectively diminished ulcer area, increased the ulcer inhibition rate, and mucus production in the ethanol-administered rats. The psoralidin effectively decreased the inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress markers, and subsequently elevated the anti-oxidant levels in the ethanol-induced rats. Moreover, it also augmented the PGE2 in the stomach tissues of ethanol-induced rats. The results of the histological investigation also support the gastroprotective properties of the psoralidin. Conclusion This research indicates that psoralidin pre-treatment may prevent ethanol-induced acute stomach injury in rats. Future research is strongly advised to comprehensively elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which psoralidin exerts its therapeutic effects on stomach ulcers.