Protective effects of Origanum vulgare against gastric damage and ulcer induced by Helicobacter pylori in an animal model

SALINAS IBÁÑEZ AG, ; CRUCEÑO AAM, ; ARISMENDI SOSA AC, ; FERRAMOLA FF, ; MOHAMED FH, ; ESCUDERO ME, ; VEGA AE

Merlo

Congreso; . XXXV Reunion Cientifica Anual Sociedad Biologia de Cuyo; 2017

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a Gram-negative bacillus found in the gastric mucosa of the human stomach. HP infection is associated to gastroduodenal diseases. Origanum vulgare (oregano) is an aromatic plant commonly used for medical purposes. Previous studies have reported the antimicrobial activity of oregano against HP. The aim of this work was to evaluate the protective effects of oregano against gastric damage and ulcer induced by HP in a model in vivo. Four groups of five male C57BL/6 mice, were used in this study. The animals were dosed intragastrically at days 1, 3 and 5 with 300 μl of 1 mg/ml oregano extract (OE) and/or 300 μl of 108 CFU/ml of bacterial suspension each time according to the following protocol: Group 1 (HP infected), Group 2 (OE treated and HP infected), Group 3 (OE treated) and Group 4 (saline solution). After 4 days, mice were sacrificed and the stomachs were aseptically removed, fixed, stained and observed. Assays were performed in duplicate. The counts of gastric mucosa lesions by direct microscopy in the Group 1 (=69 bleeding spots) were significantly higher than those in Group 2 (=21), Group 3 (=5) and Group 4 (=6). Hematoxylin-Eosin stain revealed a less conserved mucosa in Group 1 with numerous bleeding vessels. The stomach mucosa was more conserved in Group 2, and normal in Groups 3 and 4. This is the first in vivo study that demonstrates the gastroprotective role of OE and could provide an alternative therapy for gastric diseases associated to HP infection.