Effects of Ethanol Extract of Green Algae (Ulva lactuca L) on Histological Description, COX-1 Expression and COX-2 in Ethanol-Induced Rat’s Gastric

Abstract

Ethanol is the cause of gastric ulcers by reducing the production of prostaglandins (PG) and is closely related to the enzyme cyclooxygenase. One of the plants that has been studied as a gastroprotector is the green algae Ulva lactuca L. The objectives of this research were to study the effects of Ethanol Extract of Green Algae (Ekstrak Etanol Ganggang Hijau / EEGH) Ulva lactuca L. on the histological pictures of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model rats. EEGH is macerated with 96% ethanol. A total of 36 rats were divided into 6 groups with 6 rats in each group. Group I and II were given food and drink, group III was given ranitidine (15.75mg/kgBW). Groups IV, V and VI were given EEGH at doses of 125, 250 and 500mg/kgBW orally. Treatments are given for 14 days. On day 14 the rats were induced with ethanol (except group I) then fasted for 24 hours and then operated on. Gastric histopathology was observed with Hematoxyclin Eosin (HE) staining to see the ability of protection against the stomach of ethanol-induced rats. Gastric protection mechanism was observed by immunohistochemically COX-1 and COX-2 expressions. The results showed that EEGH at doses of 500mg/kgBW had a protective effect as seen from a decrease in the ulcer index and a reduction in necrosis, edema, and hemorrhage. EEGH Ulva lactuca L. were given at a dose of 500mg/KgBW was able to significantly increase the percentage of COX-1 expression in glandular cells but was not able to significantly reduce COX-2 expression.