Protective Effect of Aqueous Centella asiatica Extract on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury

Authors

  • Nzar Ibrahim Yousif Department of Community Health Nursing, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Zhala B. Taha Department of Forestry, College of Agricultural Engineering Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Mohammed M. Hussein M. Raouf Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Koya 44023, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Bakhtawar Ziad Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Zahraakhan Maaroof Taher Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Abdullah Jawdat Zebari Department of Medical Biochemical Analysis, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Zeenath S. Sheikh Department of Anesthesia Technology, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Hero Ismael Mohammed Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Shahrokh Mojarradgandoukmolla Department of Biology, College of Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Re-gion, Iraq
  • Tanya Salam Salih Department of Physiotherapy, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Usha Rani Kandula Department of Community Health Nursing, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Sherzad Hassan Radha Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Abdulrahman Ismael Department of Community Health Nursing, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v15i.4247

Keywords:

Medicinal plant, Centella asiatica, Gastric ulcer, Omeprazole, Aqueous extract.

Abstract

Background: Gastric ulcer disease is associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of gastric mucosal defense mechanisms. Ethanol-induced gastric injury is a widely used experimental model for evaluating gastroprotective agents. Centella asiatica is a medicinal plant rich in bioactive phytochemicals, including flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, and triterpenoids, which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.This study evaluated the gastroprotective effect of aqueous C.asiatica extract against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats. Materials and Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups (n=6): ulcer control, omeprazole-treated group (20 mg/kg), and three groups pretreated orally with aqueous C.asiatica extract at doses of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening of the extract was performed using standard methods. Gastric ulceration was induced using absolute ethanol (5 mL/kg). Gastric pH, mucus weight, ulcer area, and ulcer inhibition percentage were evaluated. Histopathological examination and quantitative real-time PCR analysis of Nrf2 and HO-1 expression were also performed. Results: Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, and triterpenoids in the aqueous C.asiatica extract. Pretreatment with the extract significantly reduced ethanol-induced gastric injury in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Treated rats showed increased gastric pH and mucus weight with reduced ulcer area compared with the ulcer control group. The 600 mg/kg dose produced the highest ulcer inhibition (98.88%) and preserved gastric mucosal architecture with minimal epithelial disruption, edema, and inflammatory-cell infiltration. In addition, the extract significantly upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 expression levels. Conclusion: Aqueous C.asiatica extract demonstrated significant gastroprotective activity against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats, possibly through enhancement of mucosal defense mechanisms and activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway. The observed protective effects may be attributed to the phytochemical constituents present in the extract, supporting the potential therapeutic value of C.asiatica in gastric ulcer prevention.

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Published

2026-08-15

How to Cite

Nzar Ibrahim Yousif, Zhala B. Taha, Mohammed M. Hussein M. Raouf, Ziad, B., Zahraakhan Maaroof Taher, Abdullah Jawdat Zebari, … Abdulrahman Ismael. (2026). Protective Effect of Aqueous Centella asiatica Extract on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury . Galen Medical Journal, 15, e4247. https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v15i.4247

Issue

Vol. 15 (2026): 2026: In Progress

Section

Original Article

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