Effects of ethanolic extracts of Quercus, Cirsium vulgare, and Falcaria vulgaris on gastric ulcer, antioxidant and inflammatory indices, and gene expression in rats

INTRODUCTION: Gastric ulcer is a multifaceted process and is usually caused by mucosal damage. Herbal medicines have received much attention considering the side effects of chemical drugs. Nowadays, the use of herbal medicines has received much attention considering the side effects of chemical drugs. Quercus brantii Lindl, Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten, and Falcaria vulgaris Bernh are plants used as traditional phytomedicine for gastric ulcer diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was aimed to investigate the protective effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of these herbs on ethanol‐induced gastric ulceration, in addition, to investigate the antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and gene expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Sprague Dawley rats, (200–250 g), were divided into six groups: Control: intact animals; sham: gavaged with distilled water (14 days); negative control: gavaged with 20 mg/kg of omeprazole (14 days); experimental groups I, II, and III: gavaged with 500 mg/kg of the extract of Falcaria vulgaris, Quercus brantii, and Cirsium vulgare, respectively, (14 days). The number of ulcers and pathological parameters were assessed. The serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, albumin, total protein, haptoglobin, alpha‐1‐acid glycoprotein, total globulin, alpha‐2‐macroglobulin, C‐fos, C‐myc, and Caspase‐9 were measured by ELISA and RT‐PCR. RESULTS: The extracts significantly reduced gastric ulcer (52.33%). The results showed that the Quercus brantii extract was more effective. There were significant differences between the serum levels of alpha‐1‐acid glycoprotein and those of alpha‐2‐macroglobulin. Also, there was a significant difference in the serum level of antioxidant parameters. Changes in the expression of the genes also confirmed the results suggested by other parameters. The expression levels of C‐fos, C‐myc, and caspase‐9 were decreased, but the Bcl‐2 expression increased. CONCLUSION: The hydro‐alcoholic extracts revealed various protection and noticeable change in the expression of caspase‐9, C‐myc, C‐fos, and Bcl‐2 genes in rats.