Gastric mucosal changes in indomethacin-induced ulcers following long term oral feeding with coconut extracts in male rats

Abstract

Changes in the histology of mucosa with induced gastric ulcers following oral feeding of coconut milk and water in male albino rats were studied. 40 male albino rats divided into four study groups made of ten animals were used for the study-control (group i), coconut water fed (group ii), coconut milk fed (group iii) and sucralfate fed (group iv). Aqueous test substances were administered by gavage daily after ulcer induction for 28 days. Gastric mucosal ulcerations were induced with indomethacin administered subcutaneously. The animals were allowed free access to food and water ad libitum. Stomach specimens were subjected to histopathological analysis. The results of the analysis showed that there were extensive gastric pits and ulcer sites with mononuclear (leucocyte) cellular infiltrations with loss of gastric glands and chronic inflammation were observed. The photomicrographs of the coconut milk and sucralfate groups showed similar cytostructure with reduction in the ulcer diameters, pin-point ulcers, more abundant mononuclear cellular infiltrations. These findings reflect cytoprotection and healing of the gastric mucosal structure damaged by indomethacin-induced ulceration. That the same effects were observed in the coconut milk and sucralfate groups but not in the coconut water confirmed the conventional usage of sucralfate as a cytoprotective agent. It is concluded that coconut milk provided a stronger cytoprotection than coconut water, and that coconut milk may have acted via same pathway as sucralfate.