Histopathological investigation of the effects of Hypericum perforatum and Tarantula cubensis extracts on gastric mucosal damage in rats

Stress brings about many diseases by destroying the homeostasis. One another diseasethat is caused by the stress is gastric ulcer. Some of the pathogenic factors of gastric ulcer canbe given as follows; increase in the acid release and pepsin activity, decrease in the mucus andbicarbonate release, increase in the gastric wall spasms and decrease in the gastric mucosalblood flow. Oxidative stress of the stress makers increase in the production of oxygen speciesalso cause damage in the gastric mucosa. Interference of this mechanism to gastric ulcerformation is shown. Hypericum perforatum extracts include flavonoids such as rutin, quercetinand quercitrin that show free radical scavenger effects. Quercetin and other flavonoids that areamong the ingredients help the plant show its anti-inflammatory effects, too. While Tarantulacubensis extract provides rapid amelioration and an amazing revival in all the tissues thatneeded healing with its demarcation, regeneration, resorption and antiphlogistic features.Therefore, we aimed to research healing effects of H. perforatum and T. cubensis to the gastricmucosal damage. In this study 70 Wistar breed rats, which are 200-250 g, have been used.Seven groups have been prepared two of which are for control. After the animals are subjectedto hypothermic restraint stress, 25, 50, 100 mg/kg/day H. perforatum extract has been orallygiven to three groups during the three-day treatment. While 0,2 ml/kg/day T. cubensis extractshave applied as s.c. to one group on alternate days, 0,7 ml/kg/day ranitidine has been giveneveryday as s.c. to another group as a positive control. After the end of treatment time, lesionsin the gastric tissue have been evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. As a result ofexperiments while histopathologic healing has been observed in the groups that were given 50mg/kg/day H. perforatum and 0,2 ml/kg/day Tarantula cubensis, at other groups macroscopicand microscopic symptoms have been decreased significantly. As a result, it can be said that H.perforatum and T. cubensis extracts play a healing role in gastric mucosal damage.Key Words: Hypericum perforatum, hypothermic-restraint stress ulcer, Tarantula cubensis.