Preventive Role of Punica Granatum Peel and Seed Extract in Murine Model of Peptic Ulcer: A Histopathological Perspective

Abstract

Objectives: To histologically assess prophylactic antiulcer effect of Punica granatum (Anar) peel and seed.
To compare stomach histological aspects of Punica granatum peel and seed with standard drug pantoprazole
in diclofenac induced murine model of peptic ulcer.
Material and Methods: This experimental animal study was conducted in post graduate medical institute (PGMI) Lahore, after approval from Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Federal post graduate medical institute (FPGMI). Eighty one male rats were segregated into 9 groups having 9 rats each. Control groups; G- 1 (healthy control) and G-2 (disease control) were given only distilled water. Pantoprazole and Punica granatum peel (PGPE) and seed (PGSE) extracts were given orally once daily to the treatment groups (3-9) for 15 days as follow:G-3: pantoprazole 60mg/kg/d, G-4:PGPE 100mg/kg/d, G-5 PGSE 500mg/kg/d, G-6: PGPE 50mg/kg/d±PGSE 250mg/kg/d, G-7:Pantoprazole 30mg/kg/d±PGPE 50mg/kg/d, G-8:Pantoprazole 30mg/kg/d±PGSE 250mg/kg/d, G-9:Pantoprazole 30mg/kg/d±PGPE 50mg/kg/d±PGSE 250mg/kg/d. Groups 2-9 were then given 100mg/kg diclofenac orally on day 17 for induction of peptic ulcer. Histopathological analysis of stomach was done at the end of the study.
Results: The gastric mucosa of all the animals in healthy control group was intact and had a continuous epithelium. Disease control showed severe mucosal damage grade 3 involving entire mucosa, grade 2 involving 2/3rd of mucosa and grade 1 superficial erosion injury. The difference between mucosal findings of all groups was highly significant (p-value= 0.000). None of the treatment groups showed grade 3 mucosal damage.
Conclusion: Best results were observed in the group where Pantoprazole 30mg/kg/d ± PGPE 50mg/kg/d ± PGSE 250mg/kg/d combination was used.
Keywords: pomegranate, peptic ulcer disease, pantoprazole, diclofenac