Agrimonia eupatoria leaf extract attenuates alcohol-induced oxidative stress, ulcer and alleviates stomach damage in rats

Abstract

Agrimonia eupatoria commonly utilized in traditional medicine in treating various ailments has not been investigated for its impact on gastric ulceration in rats. This study aims to examine the gastroprotective effects of A. eupatoria leaf extract on acute gastric mucosal damage induced by absolute ethanol in Sprague Dawley rats. Thirty rats were randomly assigned to five groups: negative control, ulcer control, omeprazole, and two experimental groups. Macroscopic examination revealed severe stomach mucosal injuries and reduced stomach mucus secretion and stomach pH in the ulcer control rats. Rats pre-treated with A. eupatoria extract exhibited a significant reduction in ulcer area, increased mucus production, and an increase in stomach pH compared to the ulcer control group. Histology of rats pre-nourished with A. eupatoria extract using hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stains importantly decreased gastric lesions, ulcer areas, edema, and white blood cell permeation of the submucosal stratum. Likewise, treated groups showed increased intensity of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining in the stomach epithelium compared to the ulcer control group, indicating enhanced mucosal protection. In stomach homogenate, A. eupatoria established a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities as well as significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In conclusion, A. eupatoria extract documented gastroprotective influence, reduction in ulcer area, rise in pH, and mucus excretion, increased SOD and CAT, and reduced MDA level.