The use of Onion (Allium cepa L.) treatment can mitigate gastric mucosal injury in rats

Author E-mail: [email protected] Tel: (+966) 11-4695784; Fax: (+966) 11-4677710 Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most widely consumed culinary vegetables globally. Onions are a rich source of dietary flavonoids and other bioactive compounds. Its consumption offers protection against a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders. We used a rat model with gastric mucosal injury to simulate gastric ulcer disease in humans by triggering ulcers using various agents such as indomethacin, pylorus ligation, hypothermic restrainment and necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 mol/L NaOH and 25% NaCl). Pretreatment of rats with onion suspension (200 and 500 mg/kg) significantly mitigated enhanced ulcer index elicited by indomethacin, pylorus ligation, hypothermic restrainment and necrotizing agents. Furthermore, hypothermic restrainment-induced intraluminal bleeding was significantly attenuated by administration of onion suspension. Onion treatment significantly modulated changes in non-protein sulfhydryl and malondialdehyde levels of gastric tissue triggered by 80% ethanol. The biochemical findings were supported by an evaluation of stomach histopathology. The present data show that onion confers robust cytoprotection against gastric mucosal damage by a mechanism that is redox-sensitive. Dietary consumption of onions may, thus be beneficial against gastric ulcers in humans.