Protective effect of barbigerone against ethanol-induced ulcers via the interleukins/ ICAM-1/Bcl-2 pathway

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the protective effects of barbigerone in ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Wistar rats (180 +/- 20 g) were used in the study (n=06). The rats were randomly divided into different groups, i.e., the normal group, ethanol control, and bar-bigerone 10 and 20 mg/kg group. Various bio-chemical parameters were assessed - total acidity and pH values, oxidative stress biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathi-one (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and cata-lase (CAT) along with markers, i.e., tumor necro-sis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, in-tercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and expression of B-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Also, histopathology was performed. RESULTS: Treatment with barbigerone in the ethanol-induced-ulcer rats restored the levels of biochemical parameters such as SOD, GSH, MDA, CAT, and markers expression, including TNF-alpha, IL -6, IL-10, ICAM-1, and Bcl-2 with protected against cellular necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Barbigerone protective effects can be attributed to its ability to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as promote gas-troprotection against ethanol-induced ulcers in rats.