Protective effects of vitamin B6 alone and in combination with L-cysteine and NaHS on ethanol and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions in mice

Abstract

<em>Objective(s):</em> This study was undertaken to investigate the protective effects of vitamin B₆, cofactor for cystathionine-γ lyase and cystathionine-β synthase (producers of H₂S), alone and in combination with L-cysteine, H₂S precursor, on indomethacin-, and ethanol-induced gastric lesions in male NMRI mice. <br/><em>Materials and Methods:</em> Fasted male NMRI mice were randomly assigned into 12 groups (7 in each). The gastroprotective activity of vitamin B₆ alone and in combination with L-cysteine and sodium hydrosulfate (NaHS) was evaluated against ethanol-, and indomethacin-induced gastric lesions. The animals were received vehicle, vitamin B₆, L-cysteine, L-cysteine+vitamin B₆, NaHS or NaHS+B₆ before the induction of gastric lesions by ethanol (50%, 0.5 ml/25 g of body weight, orally) or indomethacin (40 mg/kg, orally). One and five hours after the administration of ethanol and indomethacin, respectively, the animals were sacrificed using anesthetics. The stomachs were removed, rinsed with normal saline and assessed for gastric wall mucus changes. <br/><em>Results:</em> Pretreatment with L-cysteine, sodium hydrosulfate, and vitamin B₆ significantly decreased the total area of gastric lesions (<em>P<</em>0.01). The mucus production in L-cysteine-, sodium hydrosulfate-, and vitamin B₆-treated animals were significantly higher than in control rats (<em>P<</em>0.05). The gastroprotective activity of L-cysteine and sodium hydrosulfate in combination with vitamin B₆ were higher than when administered alone (<em>P<</em>0.05). <br/><em>Conclusion:</em> The result of this survey showed that the protective activity of L-cysteine and sodium hydrosulfate enhances in the presence of vitamin B₆.