Introduction: Gastric injury is considered a common global medical problem with different etiology. Açai berry, a fruit rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, is lately considered a promising protective and therapeutic agent.
Aim of the Work: To assess the probable protective and therapeutic effects of açai berry extract on gastric fundic mucosal injury, experimentally induced by diclofenac sodium.
Materials and Methods: 50 adult male albino rats were equally distributed into 5 groups; I (Control), II (Açai berry extract) that received açai extract orally (300 mg/kg) once per day for consecutive 14 days, III (Gastric injury) which received one dose of diclofenac sodium (100 mg/kg) orally, IV (Protected) that received açai extract for consecutive 14 days then one dose of diclofenac sodium and V (Treated) that was given diclofenac sodium once then given açai extract for consecutive 14 days. The fundic specimens were examined by light microscopy (H&E, PAS, caspase-3, PCNA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Results: Group III showed sloughed mucosal surface cells, areas of mucosal discontinuity, cytoplasmic vacuolation, inflammatory cellular infiltration and congested blood vessels. Absent PAS-reactivity and strong caspase-3 immunoreaction together with decreased PCNA immunoreaction were also reported. SEM of group III revealed honeycomb appearance with loss of some surface mucosal cells and cavitation of other surface cells. Wide gastric pits and deep craters were also observed. Group IV exhibited preserved normal histological structure of the fundic mucosa. Group V revealed marked improvement of the histological changes reported in group III.
Conclusion: Açai berry extract had beneficial effects in protection against and treatment of fundic gastric injury, however, these effects were more prominent in the protected than the treated groups.