The effect of palm vitamin E on the healing of ethanol-induced gastric lesion was compared with ranitidine. Fifty-six male rats of Sprague-Dawley species (200-250 g of weight) were randomly divided into three groups (N = 14). Gastric mucosal injury was induced by orogastric tube administration of 0.5 ml 100% ethanol. Immediately after induction, Group I (k) rats was fed with a normal diet (control), group II (p) was fed palm vitamin E enriched diet (150 mg/kg food), Group III(r) was treated with ranitidine 30 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally and Group IV (p + r) was fed with palm vitamin E and treated with ranitidine 30 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally of the same dose. The rats were killed at the end of 1 week and 3 weeks of treatment or feeding. The rate of gastric healing was faster in palm vitamin E treated group compared to control and ranitidine treated groups as shown by a lower mean ulcer index. The effect was seen as early as the first week of treatment whereas ranitidine did not show any healing effect even after 3 weeks of therapy. Neither gastric acidity nor gastric mucus production are involved in gastroprotective effect of palm vitamin E. The most probable mechanism is via reducing lipid peroxidation process as shown by a significant decrease in gastric MDA.

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