Effects of Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf on Helicobacter pylori induced gastritis in rats: anti- Helicobacter pylori and anti gastritis properties

We evaluated the antimicrobial and host-directed effects of Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf (P. furfuracea) against Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) associated gastritis. The acetone extract inhibited H. pylori growth in vitro, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 15.625 µg/mL, and modestly reduced pre-formed biofilms. In a rat model of indomethacin- and H. pylori induced gastritis, oral P. furfuracea treatment lowered gastric bacterial load and urease activity, shifted the cytokine profile toward an anti-inflammatory pattern (reduced interleukin-1β [IL-1β] and restored interleukin-10 [IL-10]), improved oxidative status (decreased malondialdehyde [MDA] and total oxidant status [TOS], increased reduced glutathione [GSH] and total antioxidant status [TAS]), and downregulated hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) transcripts. These molecular and biochemical changes were accompanied by better preservation of gastric mucosal architecture and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Overall, P. furfuracea exhibited a dual profile, combining direct anti H. pylori activity with mucosa-protective, host-directed effects. These findings support further development of standardized P. furfuracea preparations, including mechanistic, phytochemical, and dose–response studies, as potential adjuncts to conventional H. pylori therapies. Thirty-six Wistar albino rats were equally divided into 6 groups. Group 1 was treated with NaCl (1). Rats in Groups 2-6 with GU were given indomethacin (5 mg/kg) by gavage for 5 days (2). Rats in Groups 3, 5 and 6 with gastritis were given 1 mL of H. pylori suspension prepared as 10⁸-109 CFU/mL by gavage twice daily for 7 days (3). Rats in groups 4 and 5 received P. furfuracea (15 µg/rat/day) by gavage once daily (4). Group 6 received standard drugs (amoxicillin, 50 mg/kg; clarithromycin, 25 mg/kg; omeprazole, 20 mg/kg) once daily (5). After treatment (6), all animals in the groups were euthanized and gastric tissues were removed (7).