EFFECTS OF THE COMBINED THERAPY D-002 PLUS GRAPE SEED EXTRACT (GSE) ON ASPIRIN INDUCED GASTRIC ULCER IN RATS
Abstract

Author(s): Vivian Molina, PhD*; Yazmín Ravelo, MsC; Rosa Mas, PhD

Abstract Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs represent a pivotal cause of gastric ulceration. Gastroprotective effects of D-002 and grape seed extract (GSE) monotherapies have been documented, but the effects of their combined therapy remained unexplored. This study investigated the effects of administering together D-002 plus GSE on aspirin-induced gastric ulceration in rats. Two experiments were conducted for investigating the effects of GSE alone (1, 5 or 25 mg/kg) (first experiment) and of the combined therapy D-002 (5 mg/kg) plus GSE (1 mg/kg) (second experiment) on aspirin-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Effects on gastric juice volume and gastric mucus quantity were also determined. GSE (1, 5 and 25 mg/kg) significantly reduced (34%, 68.9% and 73.1%, respectively) ulcer indexes. Low doses of D-002 (5 mg/kg) and GSE (1 mg/kg) decreased significantly but modestly (36.3% and 38%, respectively) ulcer indexes, while same doses given as combined therapy reduced significantly and markedly (90.5%) gastric ulceration versus the control group, and versus each monotherapy. D-002 (5 mg/kg) and the combined therapy increased significantly mucus secretion, but all treatments failed to modify gastric juice volume. Concluding, the combined therapy D-002 plus GSE inhibited aspirin-induced gastric ulceration in rats more effectively than each monotherapy, the interaction being of synergic nature. Key words: D-002, grape seed extract, combined therapy, gastric ulcer.