Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly prescribed drugs. Gastric injury is the most common side effects of NSAIDs .It develops in 30% of all chronic NSAIDS users. It has many complications as bleeding and perforation. Drugs used in gastric treatment induce side effects, relapses and drug interactions. Banana is a common tropical plant that has been consumed since centuries.
Objective: To investigate the role of banana in prevention and treatment of NSAID-induced gastric injury.
Material & methods: 48 adult male albino rats were divided into 6 groups; GroupI received water, GroupII received banana 7 gm/kg 3 times /day for 2 days, GroupIII received indomethacin (100 mg/kg) once, GroupIV received indomethacin once then left for 2 days, GroupV received Indomethacin once with banana for 2 days, GroupVI received Indomethacin once then banana for 2 days. Rats were sacrificed; and stomach was processed for histological, immunohistochemical and morphometric studies.
Results: indomethacin group(III) showed mucosal lesions, hemorrhagic streaks, desquamation of surface epithelium, loss of normal glandular architecture and degenerative changes in the mucous and parietal cells. Autohealing group(IV) showed delayed healing. Prevented group(V) showed less mucosal lesions. However, treated group(VI) showed more or less normal mucosa. Statistically, significant decrease in enteroendocrine cells, Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) -positive cells and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) expression in indomethacin group, with significant increase in in treated group compared with other groups.
Conclusion: Banana accelerated healing in Indomethacin-induced injury of gastric mucosa and its therapeutic effect was more effective than its prophylactic one.