Tocotrienol - Rich Fraction and its Effects on Parameters Affecting Gastric Mucosal Integrity after a Single Exposure to Indomethacin

Abstract

The effect of treatment with a tocotrienol-rich fraction (TTRF) on acute single exposure to indomethacin was investigated. Forty-eight male rats of the Sprague-Dawley (200-250g) species were randomly assigned into two groups (N and T). The N group was fed with a commercially prepared normal rat diet and the T group was fed with an identical diet enriched with TTRF 150mg/kg diet. Each group was further subdivided into two subgroups that was either challenged (NI and TI) or not challenged with indomethacin (NX and TX). After eight weeks of treatment the NX and TX rats were killed and the stomachs isolated whereas the NI and TI rats were challenged with a single dose of indomethacin (80mg/kg body weight) orally and after six hours the rats were killed. Measurements for malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione content, PGE₂, gastric acid concentration and gastric adherent mucous (GAM) were done. Gastric PGE₂ content and acid concentration were comparable in the NI and TI groups compared to its corresponding group that was not challenged. The gastric MDA content and GAM concentration were increased in the NI and TI compared to its corresponding group that was not challenged. This indicated that indomethacin increased MDA and treatment with TTRF could not inhibit the rise of MDA whereas TTRF has no effect on GAM concentration. The glutathione ratio was however, only elevated in the TI group compared to the TX, which indicates that in acute mucosal injury by indomethacin, TTRF is able to preserve the ratio of the endogenous antioxidant. We conclude that TTRF has beneficial effects on gastric parameters.