Morphometric Effects of ß, ?-Carotene- 3, 3’-diol on Indomethacin- induced Gastric Ulcer in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Stomach ulcer is a disease that causes the erosion of the epithelial lining of the gastric mucosa. This study aims to determine the ameliorative effects of ß, ?- carotene- 3, 3’-diol following Indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in Wistar rats. Thirty adult male Wistar rats (7 weeks old, 160 – 165 g) were used for this study. The rats were randomized into six groups, A - F of five rats each. A –control, B – treated with 20 mg/kg body weight (bw) of indomethacin, C – treated with 20 mg/kg omeprazole, D – treated with 20 mg/kg ß, ?- Carotene- 3, E – treated with 40 mg/kg ß, ?- Carotene- 3, 3’-dioland F – treated with 80 mg/kg b.w of ß, ?- Carotene- 3, 3’-diol respectively, 12 hourly for 14 days following Indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers. The rats were fasted for 24 hours for gastric emptying after the last administration and later sacrificed using chloroform as anesthesia. The rat's stomachs were harvested for both histological and biochemical assays. The Indomethacin-only treated rats showed an eroded epithelial lining while the treated groups showed a regeneration of the mucosa layer. A significant increase in ulcerated area, ulcer index, and a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase and catalase activity with a significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentration compared to the control and treated groups at p < 0.05. ß, ?- Carotene- 3, 3’-diol, showed a better curative ratio and remediation at 80 mg/kg when compared with the omeprazole-treated group.

Key Words: gastric ulcer, indomethacin, omeprazole, ß, ?- carotene- 3, 3’-diol