The effects of momordica charantia on gastritis

Objective: Gastritis is a chronic health disease that can develop due to various etiologies and, if left untreated, can be associated with serious long-term complications. Based on the pathology and course of the disease, different classification definitions exist, but it is commonly classified as acute and chronic gastritis. Acute gastritis is typically triggered by factors such as irritating foods, medications, chemical corrosive substances, bacterial infections, and stress reactions. On the other hand, chronic gastritis has a much more complex etiology and mechanisms and is often multifactorial. In response to the inflammation that occurs in the gastric mucosa, Free Oxygen Radicals are released, causing damage. Rising concentrations of these radicals are detected by cells, leading to the activation of antioxidant mechanisms in the body. Monitoring and treatment involve various medical options that act through different mechanisms. Despite some treatments, the relapse rates can be quite high, and the long-term use of conventional treatments may lead to susceptibility to various pathologies, prompting researchers to continue searching for new approaches in this field. It is known in the literature that in various medical areas, properly selected phytotherapeutic agents have lower risk profiles and yield results similar to those of the gold standard treatment when used for long periods. In this regard, M.Charantia has drawn the attention of researchers due to its various biological properties (Immunostimulant, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Cardioprotective, Hypoglycemic, and Free Radical Scavenger). Studies suggest that M.Charantia's pectin polysaccharides, by forming a gel-like structure, may act as an anti-gastric agent suppressing inflammation primarily through mucoprotective and antioxidant mechanisms. In the experimental model presented here, the effectiveness of M.Charantia in the treatment of gastritis is evaluated in detail through Blood Parameters - Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Cytokines and Markers, along with histopathological examinations. It is believed that M.Charantia could serve as an alternative to the gold standard Proton Pump Inhibitor treatment. 18 Materials and Methods: 25 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, weighing between 200- 250 grams and approximately the same age, were acclimatized for two weeks before being randomly divided into control and experimental groups. After a 24-hour fasting period without restricting water access, all groups were subjected to necessary measurements. Care was taken to adhere to the applicable practices for the care of the experimental animals. Following the 24-hour fasting period, a 5ml/kg dose of 80% Ethanol (C2H5OH) was administered intragastrically through oral gavage, creating the model approximately 4 hours later, in accordance with the literature. Five groups were formed as follows: Group 1 Sham, Group 2 Ethanol (5ml/kg), Group 3 Momordica Charantia (30 mg/kg), Group 4 Proton Pump Inhibitor (Omeprazole 20 mg/kg), and Group 5 Herbal Capsule Compound (1 Capsule - Olive Leaf Extract 250 mg, Pomegranate Extract 200 mg, Garcinia Cambogia Extract 150 mg, Cinnamon 100 mg, L-Carnitine 50 mg, Chromium 100 μg). The treatment period was set at 14 days in accordance with previous studies, and each treatment was administered to the rats in a similar manner through oral gavage. After being subjected to the model and treated with different methods for 14 days, the rats were sacrificed under Ketamine Xylazine anesthesia, and a midline incision was made between the sternum and anus to perform Total Gastrectomy. Tissue sections were taken for histopathological and biochemical evaluation, and blood, serum, and stomach tissue samples were stored at -80 degrees Celsius under laboratory conditions. Blood Parameters - Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Cytokines and Markers were examined, and all data obtained were evaluated through statistical analyses. Results: In the conducted analyses, statistically significant differences were found in Hemogram results of Biochemistry Parameters between the groups. Specifically, MONO (0 - 0.098 109 uL), GRA (0.1 - 5.4 109 uL),HGB (14-18 g/dL), and MCHC (31 - 40 g/dL) values were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). In Group 2 Ethanol, the measurement of GRANULOCYTE (0.1 - 5.4 10*9 uL) in the blood was found to be higher than the median value of Group 5 Herbal Capsule Compound Control.Regarding the Biochemistry Parameters and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) analyses of Blood and Tissue Values between the groups (TAS, HbA1c, TOS, IL1β, IL-6 TNFα, TGF-β values), significant differences were observed (p<0.05). TOS, IL1β, IL-6 TNFα, and TGF-β parameters showed the highest median values in Group 2 (Ethanol). TAS median value was higher in Group 1 Sham and 19 Group 4 Proton Pump Inhibitor compared to Group 2 Ethanol. The HbA1c parameter had the lowest median value in Group 1 Sham and Group 3 M.Charantia. In the evaluation of histopathological findings, parameters were found to be statistically significant between the groups (Edema, Chronic Inflammation/Lymphoid Follicle, Gastritis-Gastric Ulcer Severity, Gastritis Prevalence, Erosion/Ischemic Necrosis, Gastritis Activity, Bleeding, Intestinal Metaplasia). Group 2 Ethanol showed 80% Edema and Intestinal Metaplasia, 100% Chronic Inflammation/Lymphoid Follicle, Gastritis-Gastric Ulcer Severity, Erosion/Ischemic Necrosis, Gastritis Activity, and Bleeding. Group 3 M.Charantia had no Edema, Chronic Inflammation/Lymphoid Follicle, Gastritis-Gastric Ulcer Severity, Gastritis Prevalence, Erosion/Ischemic Necrosis, Gastritis Activity, or Bleeding in 80% of the rats. In Group 4 Proton Pump Inhibitor, there was no Edema, Chronic Inflammation/Lymphoid Follicle, Gastritis- Gastric Ulcer Severity, Gastric Activity, or H.Pylori presence. In Group 5 Herbal Capsule Compound Control, 80% showed Edema, Chronic Inflammation/Lymphoid Follicle, and H.Pylori presence, while 60% had Gastritis Activity and Gastric Bleeding. Intestinal Metaplasia was observed in all rats of Group 5 Herbal Capsule Compound Control. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that M.Charantia reduces mucosal damage caused by gastritis, particularly by strengthening the mucoprotective defense and suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress through with its anti-oxidant effects. Selecting specific phytotherapeutic agents for the disease may offer an alternative or combination to Proton Pump Inhibitor treatment with fewer side effects, lower risk profiles, and reduced recurrence rates, either as standalone therapy or in combination with traditional medications, creating a synergistic effect in the treatment of gastritis and gastric ulcers or in preventing recurrence. When H.pylori is present, combining M.Charantia treatment with H.pylori eradication therapy may be appropriate. However, to draw definitive conclusions, further extensive research and clinical trials on humans are required.