Artemisia asiatica extracts protect against ethanol-induced injury in gastric mucosa of rats

Background and Aim: Based on our previous studies that Artemisia asiatica extracts exert either antioxidative or cytoprotective actions against non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric mucosal injury, or imposes qualified ulcer healing in an acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer model, we investigated the protective effects of Artemisia asiatica extracts against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats received 4 g/kg body weight (BW) of absolute ethanol intragastrically, which produced visible hemorrhagic gastric lesions 60 min later. Results: In this animal setting, the pretreatment of Artemisia extracts (30 or 100 mg/kg BW), 1 h before ethanol administration, significantly attenuated the source of gastric injury, which was assessed with gross and microscopic analysis (P < 0.01). Protection from alcohol-induced damage with Artemisia pretreatment was associated with significantly decreased lipid peroxidation, protecting gastric mucosa from glutathione depletion, as well as the inhibition of the cytochrome 2E1 ethanol-metabolizing enzyme. It attenuated the expressions of ethanol-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1 beta and interferon-gamma, a weak activation of IL-10, the inhibition of the alcohol-induced overexpression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and the considerable induction of heat shock protein-72 expression in gastric mucosal homogenates. Conclusion: The data suggest that the ethanol extracts of Artemisia asiatica exerted significant protection from alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury through bioregulation, which is essential for cytoprotection and anti-inflammation.