Abstract
Healing of gastric ulcer is a regenerative process including cell migration, proliferation, re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, and matrix deposition. Anti-ulcer potentials of some natural products were investigated as alternative drugs probably due to their safety and effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective, antiulcerogenic and ulcer healing activities of Clover, Sidr and Samar honey. Physicochemical and antioxidant activity of honey were investigated. Six groups of albino rats were used in this study (control, ethanol ulcerated , recovery, ulcerated rats + clover honey , ulcerated rats + sidr honey and ulcerated rats + samar honey). In vivo studies including histopathological examinations, detection of collagen deposition, histochemical demonstrations with PAS and Perl's Prussian blue stains, immunohistochemical demonstration of VEGF, HSP47 and iNOS, and biochemical investigations of gastric MPO and PEG2 and gastric juice were performed. In vitro Wound scratch and anti-H. pylori assays were done. Ethanol-ulcerated rats cotreated with Clover, Sidr or Samar honey achieved gastroprotection, antiulcerogenic, and ulcer healing activities when compared with ethanol and recovery groups. Samar honey achieved the best results by comparing with clover and sidr honey. The gastric injury score decreased, collagen deposition increased. Histochemical demonstration showed improvement of PAS-positive materials, and reduction in hemosiderin deposits. iNOS immunoexpression decreased significantly , while VEGF and HSP47 correlated strongly with the healing status. MPO and PGE2 levels, mucus contents, gastric juice volume, PH and acidity were improved. Honey accelerates cell migration in wound scratch assay and showed anti-H. pylori activity.