Cytoprotective Effects of Hydro-extracts of the Inner Bark of the Oak Tree Fruit (Jaft) on the Healing Process of Aspirin-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Introduction: A gastric ulcer is a mucosal lesion of the stomach that may occur after taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, especially in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytoprotective effects of the aqueous extract of oak (Jaft) against the mucosal damage effects of aspirin. Methods: Seventy-two female Wistar rats weighing 200‒240 g were prepared and divided into 6 groups. Groups I, II, and III received the Jaft extract at doses of 250 mg/kg/d, 500 mg/kg/d, and 750 mg/kg/d, respectively, and Group IV received omeprazole at a dose of 200 mg/kg/d. Groups V (patient’s control) and VI (healthy control) both received saline (0.9%) at 1 mL/kg/d . Mice were given aspirin (200 mg/kg/d) for inducing the gastric ulcer. After 14 days, they were anesthetized with ether, their stomachs were removed, and the blocks of tissue were prepared. The tissues were stained using the hematoxylin-eosin (H E) dye and analyzed by the Olympus light microscope and OLYSIA software. Finally, IBM SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: The means±standard deviation (SD) of the mucosal thickness in groups taking the Jaft extracts (250, 500, and 700 mg) decreased compared to the aspirin group (P 0.05). In addition, the mean±SD of the mucosal gland thickness and mucosal folds in group V (with aspirin) decreased compared to the 250, 500, and 700 extract groups (P 0.05). The epithelial cell destruction, edema, venous congestion, and destruction of the capillaries of the mucosal and sub-mucosal areas in the extract groups decreased compared to the V group. Likewise, the number of mucosal cells in the gastric gland and the size of gastric parietal cells in the extract groups decreased compared to the V group. Conclusion: This study generally elucidated the cytoprotective effect of the Jaft extract in the mouse model of gastric ulcer.