The Protective Effects of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid onHelicobacter pylori-Infected Gastric Mucosa in Mongolian Gerbils

Abstract

18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (GRA), a major component ofGlycyrrhiza glabra, is widely used therapeutically in clinic. In this study, the effect of GRA onHelicobacter pylori- (H. pylori-) infected gastritis was investigated in Mongolian gerbilsin vivo. The gerbils were randomly divided into groups: uninfected;H. pylori-infected;H. pylori+ antibiotics (clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and esomeprazole); andH. pylori+ GRA. The gastric intraluminal pH value, histopathological changes, and the expression levels of inflammation-related cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, COX-2, and iNOS) were investigated. The results showed that, in theH. pylori+ GRA group, the intraluminal gastric pH value was lower (2.14±0.08versus3.17±0.23,P<0.05), erosion and hyperplasia were alleviated, the infiltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells was attenuated (P<0.05), and the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, and iNOS were decreased (P<0.05) compared with theH. pylori-infected group. There was no significant difference in results between theH. pylori+ GRA group and theH. pylori+ antibiotics group. This study indicated that GRA significantly attenuatedH. pylori-infected gastritis in gerbils and has the potential to be developed as a new therapeutic drug.