Oleanolic acid promotes healing of acetic acid-induced chronic gastric lesions in rats

Abstract

Purpose: Previous work demonstrates that oleanolic acid (OA), a triterpene widely distributed in plants, shows gastroprotective effect in the ethanol, aspirin and pilorous ligature-induced gastric ulcer in rats as well as in the ethanol/hydrochloric acid-induced ulcer in mice. The aim of this work was to assess the healing effect of OA in the acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcer model in rats.

Methods: Chronic gastric lesions were induced in male Sprague–Dawley rats with acetic acid. OA was administered orally during 14 days at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg per day. Ranitidine (50 mg/kg) and the vehicle were used as controls. The ulcer area (mm2) and the curative ratio (%) were determined. Histological preparations were carried out for comparative purposes.

Results: The effect of OA was significantly different as compared to the control reducing the lesion area (in mm2) from 39±7 in controls to 17.8±1.9 and 9.4±1.1 at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The curative ratio was 54.5 and 76% for the compound at 50 and 100 mg/kg, while ranitidine at 50 mg/kg reduced the lesion area to 6.9±0.8 with a curative ratio of 84%. Mucosal thickness increased from 342 μm in controls to 540 μm in oleanolic acid- (100 mg/kg) and 945 μm in ranitidine-treated animals. Histological examination of the stomach showed regeneration of the lesions.

Conclusions: OA improves healing of chronic gastric lesions in rats. The low toxicity and widespread occurrence of OA in plants suggest a potential for the development of the triterpene or their derivatives as a new antiulcer drug.