ABSTRACT
AIM: To explore the effect of ethanol extract of costusroot (EEC) on gastric mucosa in gastric ulcer rats and related mechanism. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group, model group, sucralfate group, low-EEC group and high-EEC group, and anhydrous alcohol was administrated intragastrically to replicate gastric ulcer model in groups other than the normal. Changes in the area of gastric ulcer were observed and the inhibition rate of ulcer was calculated. The pathological changes of gastric tissue were measured by HE staining, and the protein expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were tested by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: EEC inhibited the formation of ulcer area in model rats and alleviated the histopathological damage to the stomach caused by ethanol. While enhancing the expression of Bcl-2 protein (P<0.01), it effectively inhibited the overexpression of Bax (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EEC has a strong function of anti-gastric ulcers, and its mechanism of action might be related to the regulation of the protein expression level of Bax and Bcl-2 to inhibit the apoptosis of gastri mucosal cells.