Gastroprotective effect of 1-phenyl-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one in rats

1-Phenyl-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (PHP), an antioxidant, has been studied for gastroprotective activity in-vitro and in-vivo, more specifically for its capacity to inhibit in-vitro iron- and copper-driven oxidant damage at acidic pH values mimicking intragastric conditions in the clinical setting. Our studies showed significant inhibition of both iron- and copper-driven oxidant damage at pH 3.5 and 5.3. Intragastric and intraperitoneal administration of PHP (250 mg kg-1) reduced gastric mucosal haemorrhagic lesions in stress-induced and ethanol-induced rat models. The gastroprotective effect of PHP against ethanol was reversed significantly by prior treatment with a dose of indomethacin that inhibits prostaglandin biosynthesis, indicating a possible role of prostaglandins in its gastroprotective effect. Treatment of PHP replenished reduced levels of gastric mucosal non-protein sulphydryls in ethanol-treated rats, suggesting the mediation of its effect through sulphydryls. These results indicate that PHP was active at acidic pH. This is an interesting observation because highly acidic pH is known to be important in the development of gastric ulcers. Our study suggests that PHP might protect gastric mucosa by its capacity to scavenge free radicals.