Cytoprotective effect of Benzyl N-(indol-3-ylmethylidene)-hydrazinecarbodithioate against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Benzyl N'-(indol-3-ylmethylidene)-hydrazinecarbodithioate (BIHC) and its metal complexes have been reported to have medicinal uses (Singh and Varshney, 2006). The present study was performed to evaluate, the acute toxicity and anti-ulcer activity of this BIHC against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer. Experimental animal groups were orally pre-treated with different doses of BIHC (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) in 10% Tween 20 solution (vehicle). Normal and ulcer control groups were pre-treated with vehicle. The reference group was orally pretreated with 20 mg/kg omeprazole. After one hour, all groups received absolute ethanol to generate gastric mucosal injury except the normal control group which was administered the vehicle solution. After an additional hour, all rats were sacrificed and the ulcer areas of the gastric walls determined. Grossly, the ulcer control group exhibited severe mucosal injury, whereas pre-treatment with either derivative or omeprazole resulted in significant protection of gastric mucosal injury. Flattening of gastric mucosal folds was also observed in rats pretreated with BIHC. Histological studies of the gastric wall of ulcer control group revealed severe damage of gastric mucosa, along with edema and leucocytes infiltration of the submucosal layer compared to rats pre-treated with either BIHC or omeprazole where there were marked gastric protection along with reduction or absence of edema and leucocytes infiltration of the submucosal layer. Acute toxicity study with a higher dose of derivative (5 g/kg) did not manifest any toxicological signs in rats. In conclusions, the present finding suggests that Benzyl N'-(indol-3-ylmethylidene)-hydrazinecarbodithioate derivative promotes ulcer protection as ascertained by the comparative decreases in ulcer areas, reduction of edema and leucocytes infiltration of the submucosal layer. Key words: Indole, S-benzyldithiocarbazone, histology, omeprazole, gastric ulcer.