Interplay of biochemical, genetic, and immunohistochemical factors in the etio-pathogenesis of gastric ulcer in rats: a comparative study of the effect of pomegranate loaded nanoparticles versus pomegranate peel extract.

Background: Few data are available about the role of herbal extract loaded
nanoparticles as an alternative safe medicine for the management of a gastric ulcer.
Aim: This work is targeted at exploring the physiological effects of pomegranate loaded
nanoparticles (PLN) against an indomethacin IND-induced gastric ulcer and comparing
the results with traditional pomegranate peel extract (PPE).
Methods: Twenty-four rats were equally distributed into four groups: control, INDtreated,
PLN-treated, and PPE-treated groups. Gross examination of gastric mucosa,
and the calculation of ulcer and inhibition indices were done. Serum malondialdehyde
(MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-10, gastric
homogenate prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and nitric oxide (NO) were estimated. Mucosal
endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS mRNA) expression was identified by qPCR.
Histological and immuno-histochemical staining of Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and
eNOS of stomach mucosa were performed.
Results: In comparison with the control group, IND-treated rats showed visible
multiple ulcers with ulcer index, serum MDA, IL-2 and IL-6 were elevated while IL-10,
PGE2, NO, and eNOS mRNA expression were significantly reduced. Damaged surface epithelium with disrupted glandular architecture and heavy leucocyte infiltration of
lamina propria was noticed. Immunohistochemical staining of stomach mucosa revealed
marked increased TNF-a and reduced eNOS. Oral administration of PLN and PPE
succeeded in improving the gross mucosal picture, and all biochemical, histological,
and immunohistochemical alterations.
Conclusion: Both PLN and PPE potently alleviated IND-induced gastric ulceration via
increasing TAC, PGE2, NO, eNOS mRNA, and protein expression. However, the healing
effect of PLN was obviously greater than PPE-treated rats.