 Aspirin causes gastroduodenal ulcers and complications. Apple polyphenolic compounds could exert beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract, suggests a new animal study from Italy.
Researchers from Universita Federico II, Naples and the Seconda Universita di Napoli investigated if apple polyphenol extract (APE) could reduce the aspirin-induced injury to lining of the stomach (gastric mucosa) in rats. The animals were given a dose of apple polyphenols (0.0004 moles of catechins equivalents) prior to an oral dose of aspirin (200 mg/kg).
Lead research Giuseppe D'Argenio and co-workers report that the both macroscopic and microscopic injuries to the stomachs of the animals were decreased when the apple polyphenols were consumed prior to the oral aspirin dose. Indeed, lesions were reduced by approximately 50 per cent, they said.
Increases in hormone-like substances associated with inflammation and damage were attenuated by whether apple polyphenol extract. Levels of hormone-like substances such as cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and heparin-binding epidermal-growth-factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) mRNA were analysed by the researchers.
Selectively inhibiting the COX-2 enzyme blocks the formation of prostaglandins that cause the pain and inflammation responses. D'Argenio and co-workers observed that aspirin led to increases in COX-2 and HB-EGF, but not of TGF-alpha, and that these increases were reduced by the apple polyphenols.
"In conclusion, APE reduces aspirin-induced gastric injury independently of acid inhibition," wrote the researchers. "We speculate that APE might be of therapeutic use in the prophylaxis of aspirin-related gastropathy," they conclude.
Source: British Journal of Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1017/S0007114508988747
"Apple polyphenol extracts prevent aspirin-induced damage to the rat gastric mucosa"
Authors: G. D'Argenio, G. Mazzone, C. Tuccillo, I. Grandone, A.G. Gravina, G. Graziani, V. Fogliano, M. Romano
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