Background: Stress has been implicated in pathophysiology of gastric ulcer. Berberine had shown promising gastroprotective and antistress effects.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of berberine in immobilization stress induced gastric ulcer in male albino rats.
Methods: Thirty-two adult male albino rats were randomly allocated into equal 4 groups (n=8): control group, stress, stress berberine-treated and stress omeprazole-treated groups.
At the end of the study, rats were weighed, and blood samples were collected for measurement of serum corticosterone. Lastly, the rats were sacrificed. The adrenal glands were dissected out and weighed. The stomach was dissected, evaluated for gastric acidity and gastric lesions. Each stomach was divided into 2 parts. One part was prepared for histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. The other one was homogenized for biochemical analysis.
Results: Stressed rats showed significant increase of serum corticosterone, gastric acidity, gastric malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor-alpha compared with control group. Also, they showed significant decrease of gastric reduced glutathione, interleukin-10 and prostaglandin E2 compared with control group. Macroscopic and microscopic examination confirmed the presence of gastric ulcer. Histological examination of adrenal gland showed hyperplasia of zona fasciculata. Immunohistochemical study showed upregulation of gastric cyclooxygenase-2 in stressed rats and downregulation in both berberine and omeprazole treated rats. Both berberine and omeprazole supplementation to stressed rats improved serum corticosterone, oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, macroscopic and microscopic stress induced gastric ulcer and adrenal gland pathological changes.
Conclusion: Berberine could protect against stress induced gastric lesions in rats via antistress, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory effects.