RESUMO
Gastritis refers to inflammation caused by injury to the gastric epithelium, which is usually due to excessive alcohol consumption and prolonged use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from this disease. However, the lack of safe and promising treatments makes it urgent to explore and develop leads from natural resources. Therefore, food as medicine may be the best approach for the treatment of these disorders. The present study described the protective effects of foodpolydeoxyribonucleotides (fPDRNs) in a rat model of gastric mucosal injury induced by HClEtOH. Administration of fPDRN was performed with lowPRF002 (26 mg/kg/day), mediumPRF002 (52 mg/kg/day) and highPRF002 (78 mg/kg/day) on the day of autopsy. The site of damage to the mucous membrane was also analysed. In addition, an increase in gastric juice pH, total acidity of gastric juice and decrease in gastric juice secretion were confirmed, and gastric juice secretionrelated factors corresponding to the administration of fPDRN were analysed. Administration of fPDRN reduced the mRNA expression of histamine H2 receptor, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3, cholecystokinin 2 receptor and H+/K+ ATPase related to gastric acid secretion and downregulation of histamine, myeloperoxidase and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. In addition, it was histologically confirmed that the loss of epithelial cells and the distortion of the mucosa were recovered in the group in which fPDRN was administered compared to the model group with gastric mucosa damage. In summary, the present study suggested that fPDRN has therapeutic potential and may have beneficial effects if taken regularly as a food supplement.