Gastroprotective effects of Kangfuxin against water-immersion and restraint stress-induced gastric ulcer in rats: roles of antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and pro-survival

Abstract

<b>Context:</b> Kangfuxin (KFX) is widely used for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcer; however, more research is needed to determine the protective mechanisms of KFX in ameliorating gastric ulcer.<b>Objective:</b> To investigate the efficacy and potential mechanism of Kangfuxin liquid (KFX) in water-immersion and restraint stress (WIRS)-induced gastric ulcer.<b>Materials and methods:</b> Seventy rats were randomly divided into seven groups (<i>n</i> = 10) as follows: the control group (normal saline, i.g.), the model group (normal saline, i.g.), the KFX groups (2.5, 5 and 10 mL/kg, i.g.), the omeprazole group (20 mg/kg, i.p.) and Sanjiuweitai Granules group (1850 mg/kg, i.g.). The WIRS model was applied to induce stress ulcers after 7 days of drug administration. Afterwards, rats were sacrificed at 10 h induced by WIRS.<b>Results:</b> Pre-treatment with KFX (5,10 mL/kg) could effectively reduce the area of gastric ulcers and improve the pathological changes of ulcerated tissue. Moreover, KFX (5,10 mL/kg) increased the prostaglandin E2 (52%) and cyclooxygenase-1 (30%) levels, and improved malondialdehyde (54%), superoxide dismutase (58%), catalase (39%), and nitric oxide (11%) and TNF-α (9%), IL-6 (11%), MMP-9 (54%) and MMP-2 (53%) of ulcer tissue. Furthermore, pre-treatment with KFX dramatically increased IGF-1, PTEN, and Akt protein expression.<b>Conclusions:</b> Our results suggest that KFX has protective effects on WIRS-induced gastric ulcer via inflammatory reactions, oxidative stress inhibition, and pro-survival action, which were the results of activating the IGF-1/PTEN/Akt signalling pathway. Our results provide evidence of KFX for treating gastric ulcer.