PREVENTION BY RUTIN OF GASTRIC-LESIONS INDUCED BY ETHANOL IN RATS - ROLE OF ENDOGENOUS PROSTAGLANDINS

1. This study was designed to demonstrate the cytoprotective effect of Rutin against ethanol-induced gastric injury in rats and to determine whether this cytoprotective effect is mediated by endogenous prostaglandins. 100 and 200 mg/kg or Rutin given orally 1 hr before administration of 1 ml of 100% ethanol significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the area of macroscopic lesions induced by ethanol (84.16 +/- 23.01 and 54.75 +/- 16.05 respectively) when compared to distilled water (305.60 +/- 67.20). However, it did not induce changes in the amount and total proteins and hexosamines content of gastric mucus. 2. Pretreatment with indomethacin, 10 mg/kg s.c. 30 min before Rutin administration, slightly but not significantly reduced the cytoprotective effect. 3. The levels of PGE(2) present in the mucous material were not significantly modified with administration of Rutin (100 mg/kg). 4. These results show that Rutin has a cytoprotective effect against ethanol injury in the rat, but this property does not appear to be mediated by endogenous prostaglandins.