Effect of Yiwei extract on gastric mucosal PGE2 and mucin inside epithelial cells in rats

AIM: To observe the effect of Yiwei extract that supplements qi and nourishes yin on local defense mechanism of gastric mucosa. METHODS: Thirty-two SD rats weighing 180-220 g were randomly classified into four groups: control groug (S), Yiwei extract treatment group (YM), indomethacin injury group (M) and misoprostol treatment group (PM). Indomethacin, a gastric mucosa injury agent, was injected into rat stomach orally. Saline solution, saline solution plus indomethacin, Yiwei extract plus indomethacin and misoprotol plus indomethacin were given to group S, group M, group YM and group PM respectively. The stomachs were removed 4 h after last administration. Endogenous prostaglandin E2(PGE2) concentration of gastric mucosa were measured by radioimmunoassay; mucin inside epithelial cells and mucus of gastric mucosa were assayed quantitatively by image-assaying. RESULTS: The content of the endogenous PGE2 in mucosa of gastric corpus was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in group YM, compared with group M, and so did it in gastric antrum. The contents of mucin inside epithelial cells of gastric mucosa was significantly higher in group YM and PM than group M; the contents of the mucus inside gastric mucosa in group YM and group PM were higher than those in group M. CONCLUSION: Yiwei extract is able to effectively resist idomethacin-induced injury of gastric mucosa by means of promoting the production of endogenous PGE2 and the synthesis of mucin inside epithelial cells. The protective effect on gastric mucosa and mucin is similar to that of misoprostal.