Effectiveness ofOpuntia ficus indicaL.inermisSeed Oil in the Protection and the Healing of Experimentally Induced Gastric Mucosa Ulcer

Abstract

Gastric ulcer is a painful lesion of the gastric mucosa which can be disabling, or even more very serious in the case of a perforation of the stomach and internal hemorrhage. Traditional pharmacopeias have shown the efficacy of various plant extracts in the treatment of this pathology. Some extracts from Opuntia ficus indica (OFI) have been proven to have medicinal therapeutic benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive and curative effects of OFI seed oil extracted by cold pressing on an ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in rats. Gastroprotective activities of the oil were assessed as pretreatments prior to ethanol gavage of Wistar rats compared to reference drugs. Two oil dose effects were tested. Ulcer and gastric parameters were measured (ulcerated areas (mm2), % of ulcer inhibition, gastric juice volume and pH, and mucus weight). Macroscopical and microscopical assessments of the stomachs as well as gastric biopsy histological studies were carried out. OFI oil exhibited a high efficiency in the protection of the cytoarchitecture and function of the gastric mucosa against the severe damages provoked by ethanol intake. Ulcerated areas were very significantly reduced and the % of ulcer inhibition was the highest under OFI oil pretreatment. Mucus production was stimulated, gastric juice volume was reduced, and its pH was increased. Histopathological examination of H&E-stained biopsies collected from gastric mucosae from the different experimental groups confirmed the gastroprotective efficacy of OFI oil against ethanol-induced symptoms such as inflammation and damages like bleeding, erosions, lesions, necrosis, and ulcers. Furthermore, OFI oil treatment speeded-up the reduction of the surface of ethanol-induced ulcerated areas in a dose-dependent manner, leading to a time gain in the healing process. The healing rate reached 91% on day 2 and 99% on day 3, and a complete heal was attained at the fourth day under OFI oil treatment, while ulcer areas were still partially unhealed in all the other groups. The therapeutic effects of OFI oil against gastric ulcer could be mediated by its varied bioactive compounds that we have demonstrated in the analytical study. They could act synergistically or in a delayed manner to optimize the healing process through protective antioxidant properties, as well as an antagonism against histamine H2-receptors, a stimulation of the signaling pathways necessary for mucus and bicarbonate production, and reduction of inflammatory processes in the gastric mucosa. Additionally, OFI oil fatty acids (especially unsaturated) and triacylglycerols contribute to the reconstruction and the repair of the cell membrane lipid bilayer during the gastric ulcer healing process.

Acute and Subacute Toxicity and Cytotoxicity of Opuntia Dillenii (Ker-Gawl) Haw. Seed Oil and Its Impact on the Isolated Rat Diaphragm Glucose Absorption

“…From these studies, it can be concluded that the oil of O. ficus-indica seeds is not toxic even at high doses. Khémiri et al (2019) evaluated the O. ficus-indica seeds oil’s acute toxicity in adult rats, revealing that the oil did not display any signs of toxicity or death in orally administered animals with either a 3.5 mL dose or a 7 mL oil/kg dose over the five days of the study period [ 24 ]. In this study, we also intended to examine the possible mechanism of action for ODSO’s antihyperglycemic effect [ 7 ], by evaluating this oil’s effect on the glucose absorption ability of the isolated rat hemidiaphragm.…”

<p>Pumpkin Oil–Based Nanostructured Lipid Carrier System for Antiulcer Effect in NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer Model in Rats</p>

“…Natural products have emerged as a source of compounds with potential antiulcer activity. 50,51 Previous report by our group investigated the PSO solubilizing ability of ibuprofen in self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system for improved solubility and as protection factor from peptic ulcer induced by the enhanced solubility of ibuprofen. 52 These promising results were taken a step further to prove the efficacy of PSO in ulcer protection through formulation into NLCs with improved stability and efficacy characteristics when compared with the self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system.…”

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potentials of Seed Oil from Carthamus tinctorius L. in the Management of Skin Injuries

“…This method does not use any chemical products during the extraction process and ensures the preservation of oil components. The extracted seed oil was then stored until use in anti-UV hermetic clean bottles as previously described [ 57 ].…”

“…Total flavonoid content in safflower seed oil was assayed as described [ 62 ] and slightly modified [ 57 ]. 1.5 mL of 2% aluminium trichloride solution (AlCl 3 ) was added to 1.5 mL DMSO dissolved oil.…”